‘Compelling and intriguing, this is a well-told story full of wonderful prose and surprising events. It’s a vivid addition to the genre’. –RT BookReviewsShortlisted for the Impress Prize England 1660When artist Alice Ibbetson discovers a rare orchid, the lady’s-slipper, growing in a nearby wood, she is captivated by its beauty. It is the last surviving specimen and she wants to preserve it for … specimen and she wants to preserve it for future generations.
There is only one problem – it is growing on the land of Richard Wheeler, a newly-converted Quaker, who will not allow her to touch it.
Fearing for the flower’s fragility, she steals the orchid, little dreaming that this seemingly simple act will set off an unstoppable chain of events – a web of intrigue that will lead to murder and exile, and change her comfortable life forever.
Set in an England riven by civil war and divided loyalties the novel explores the nature of faith, and who should control the land we all inhabit.
“It is a genuinely engrossing story, with characters you can get interested in.” –The Mum website
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This book does not end up where you would think and the ending was a nice, ahhh, isn’t that rich?! But the characters struggle from their choices and things go in directions you don’t expect.
Good story, but very grim.
I have to rate any book that keeps me up reading after 2:30 in the morning as a 5.
Will have to see the movie and how they treat the unique juxtaposition of imagery regarding the slipper.
I enjoyed reading about how times were in the 16th century. The characterizations were very good, and I either liked or really didn’t like (according to whether they were good guys or bad guys). I really liked the epilog. It helps to see things as time goes on. A good wrap-up
Unusual. First time reading this author. Probably true to life in this era. People were presumed guilty. Difficult time for freedom & religion.
I’m struggling getting into this book. Still working on it!
Surprise ending. Like happy endings for main characteristics. Sad others didn’t make it.
I really enjoyed it and learned a lot about a flower I’ve only seen in pictures. It has a lot of interesting and historical facts of a certain century. Believable characters.
Liked the basic story, but sometimes there was a bit of wandering and too much detail for some of the characters which was distracting to the story
I actually didn’t finish this book. I kept trying to read it but the characters were really nasty people and I decided it wasn’t worth my time.
Great history of the beginning Quakers. Romance and adventure.
It was suspence and romance.
Book moved too slow for me