TLC Book Tours Book Review: A Memory Of Violets

Author: Hazel Gaynor
Title: A Memory Of Violets
Publisher: William Morrow
Publish Date: Feb 3, 2015
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: 
"For little sister. . . . I will never stop looking for you."

1876. Among the filth and depravity of Covent Garden's flower markets, orphaned Irish sisters Flora and Rosie Flynn sell posies of violets and watercress to survive. It is a pitiful existence, made bearable only by each other's presence. When they become separated, the decision of a desperate woman sets their lives on very different paths.

1912. Twenty-one-year-old Tilly Harper leaves the peace and beauty of her native Lake District for London to become assistant housemother at one of Mr. Shaw's Training Homes for Watercress and Flower Girls. For years, the homes have cared for London's orphaned and crippled flower girls, getting them off the streets. For Tilly, the appointment is a fresh start, a chance to leave her troubled past behind.

Soon after she arrives at the home, Tilly finds a notebook belonging to Flora Flynn. Hidden between the pages she finds dried flowers and a heartbreaking tale of loss and separation as Flora's entries reveal how she never stopped looking for her lost sister. Tilly sets out to discover what happened to Rosie—but the search will not be easy. Full of twists and surprises, it leads the caring and determined young woman into unexpected places, including the depths of her own heart.

Review: There are some books out there that are meant to be savored and this is definitely one of those books. When you sit down to read it you really get lost in the two stories here, the story of Tilly and her life in London as a housemother, and the story of Florrie and Rosie and how they lost each other.

It is a book about sisters, and it is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time for everyone. Tilly and Florrie have some similarities as well as an unusual connection to each other. Florrie was an orphan and lived

I loved reading Florrie's story, even though it will break your heart. It is hard to imagine spending your life looking for someone that you've lost, not knowing if they are alive or dead. You also get to see what happened to Rosie. Her story isn't as sad, but rather touching. She is one of the lucky ones.

When you learn about the flower girls of London during the late 1800s and early 1900s you can't help but feel sorry for them all. It was such a hard life for these children and so many of them were suffering from afflictions.

Tilly is the string that binds the whole story together and yet her story might be the saddest of them all, and it involves her sister and mother. Her relationship with them is not good at all. But there's some intrigue there and a sibling rivalry too.

There is also a little bit of romance, but it isn't very important to the story. The story really is about bringing the flower girl sisters back together, even though one of them is dead. What makes this story so beautiful and powerful is how Tilly ultimately is tied to the Florrie and Rosie.

This was truly a beautiful book and one I won't soon forget. I highly recommend it!

Rating:  5 flowers