Love can last a lifetime and beyond…
On the eve of the First World War aspiring poet and Lord of the Manor’s heir, Kit Rivers accepts that his duty is to his family and his country. Yet when he falls passionately in love, Kit discovers hard choices must be made when conflict threatens everything he holds dear and shatters his world beyond all recognition.One century later, newly widowed Chloe … recognition.
One century later, newly widowed Chloe Pencarrow exchanges London life for an isolated Cornish house. Haunted by memories, Chloe’s interest in a local war memorial proves a welcome distraction from grief and leads to a fascination with a collection of forgotten poetry. As Chloe’s own story becomes entwined with Kit’s, she finds herself caught in a tangled web of love, loss, and the darkest of secrets…
Shortlisted for the prestigious Winston Graham Historical Fiction Prize 2018, The Letter is a beautiful novel set in England between the First World War and the present day. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, it is a story of family, forbidden love, and long kept secrets.
***** “One of my books of the year,” Being Anne.
***** “Will break your heart and touch your soul.” Amazon Vine reviewer.
This suspenseful novel is set in Cornwall and reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier and Rosamunde Pilcher. Romantic and moving, it is a tale of loss and love, the devastation of war and a homage to the lives shattered in the trenches and at home.
A #1 bestseller on Amazon UK, The Letter is a vivid novel of heart-break and passion, with characters – and an ending – the reader won’t forget.
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I admit to shedding quite a few tears while reading this.
A very moving and compelling dual timeline set in the present day and the early 20th Century.
Chloe has recently lost her husband, and moves into an old rectory in Cornwall where she discovers some hidden secrets.
Loved the mixture of WWII history with the modern world. Beautiful prose and imagery.
Artfully woven story of men and women of different generations finding love and embracing life in spite of every challenge.
One of the best books I have read in a long time. I have already recommended it to several friends. There are several things that drew me in: the setting in Cornwall, the Brits, history, romance, lost love, and the realism. I was happy to read of the author’s great-aunt’s as the inspiration for this book. I was inspired by Chloe’s search for answers and her firm stand to be an advocate for Daisy. Chloe is working through her loss of Neil and her desire to return to her art: and Neil is there at times to guide her. Great writing; will be reading more from Ruth Saberton.
A wonderful read … not to be missed if you love tales of romance!
Best written book I’ve read in a very long time. Excellently crafted. Excellent character development. Excellent use of language. It’s a book I couldn’t wait to come home to.
I really enjoyed this book!
This was an interesting look at love and war. I think it was loosely based on a true story. It was a rather long read but well worth the time.
Heartbreaking. Heartwarming.
The Letter – What a wonderful story; written similar to the manner of Rosamunde and Maeve! I loved the way Neil was always there, yet, in Cornwall, there are no memories to interfere with Chloe’s grief. This is a well written, mesmerizing story with interesting, believable characters that grow as the story progresses. The story telling flows along, keeping the reader locked in the pages. The emotions run the gamut from grief to excitement to happiness to horror, among others.
The mystery about Kit and the daisy add to the intrigue of The Letter. This the main love story tears the heart out of the reader. While Chloe and Neil and Matt are important parts of The Letter, Daisy and Kit are the heart and soul of this story.
World War I was the beginning of modern warfare and even as primitive as the weapons were, compared to today’s arsenal, the damage done to the soldiers and their families was horrific. The trenches and the mustard gas destroyed so much of that generation. The author does a great job describing the parts of The Great War that affected the characters. I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read so far by this author and hope to read more of her future intriguing and mesmerizing stories. She does not disappoint the reader. 5*
Love.
A bittersweet mystery interwoven with grieving and healing and finding your way back from the pain.
Love never forgets.
I had never heard of this author before and was rather put off by the title (which is so plain, unprovocative, and common), but you cannot judge a book by its title! This novel is a wonderful piece for people who want to know more about the Great War, as well as those of us who (unfortunately) still have to deal with the horrors of war, and all the damage it causes not only mentally and physically, but in lost opportunities, lost people, ruined lives and lives tragically cut short.
Author Ruth Saberton’s writing is powerful and her characters convincing. Who could possibly forget Daisy’s near-naked bathing or near-fatal careen down a hill on a borrowed bicycle? Both escapades netted her the heir to the local Lord of the Manor who instantly (and passionately) fell in love.
And how happy they would have been if only the inevitable snobbishness of his parents (Daisy was only a doctor’s daughter) and the Great War had not intervened.
The Great War was a truly horrible war which affected everybody both in England, Western Europe and beyond.
In my family, both of my grandmothers were lucky women who never had the heartbreak of losing multiple fiancés or wandering around for years unable to get past their first love to young men who simply vanished into thin air. Somehow, they both managed to marry despite the dearth of men.
But the men of that generation were not so lucky. My step-grandfather lost a leg in action off of Jutland in 1916, my grandfather acquired permanent damage to his lungs as a result of being on a boat full of creosote that was torpedoed by the Germans, and my stepfather (who signed up in 1918 at the age of eighteen) was thankfully prevented from going to the front by a bout of Spanish flu.
Therefore it is not surprising that such a beautifully written novel about such devastating tragedy set in one of the most beautiful parts of the world (Cornwall) should receive such acclaim. If you have never heard of this writer or this novel before, you are in for a treat. Five stars.
Liked the characters, and enjoyed that it was two stories in one.
Restored my faith in true love
Poignant heart breaker. History of WW1 very touching. Love and lost lives. Absolutely mesmerizing.
Wonderful historical romance, combined with modern recovery and romance story.
Saberton’s descriptions drew me right in to her interesting and original story. Her writing was so outstanding that I have pursued finding other works of hers as well and have found them to draw me in to her story just as well.
A great mix of today with events of yesteryear (WWI). Enjoyed immensely.
One of the best books i have read in awhile. Absolutely loved it.
Beautifully written.
This is the best book I’ve read in a long time. I had a hard time putting it down. It was interesting, detail-oriented, heart-breaking, and tender. Well written!!!