The Lovers

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the combination of joining the present day story with that of the past. I have already purchased the next book in this series and anxiously looking forward to reading it.

Good book. Good read. But you know from the beginning that it’s going to be a “Titanic” ending. I still recommend it though if you don’t mind that kind of thing.
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I have mixed feelings about this book. While I did enjoy Elise’s storyline, I found Quinn’s storyline boring. So much so that about halfway through the book, I found myself skimming through Quinn’s story just so I could get back to Elise’s story. Since the series is based on Quinn and her life, I won’t be continuing with the series. I suppose if her love interest was more interesting than Gabe, I might have checked out the next book just to see if she finds her father. Oh well.

In 1665 Elise de Laseppes has been biding her time, waiting to announce her secret betrothal to a common lad to her father. But one morning, her father calls for her, telling her to prepare for her wedding to Lord Asher. Lord Asher is rich, widowed, twice her age, and able to save the de Laseppes from ruin. While she wants nothing more than to run away with the boy who promises her the world, she can’t. Her two little sisters depend on her to keep the family afloat, even if they don’t fully understand it. So she leaves her childhood home to become the literal lady of the manor. But her well-bred husband hides more than one secret and Elise will be tasked with not only saving her family, but herself as her husband strives to get an heir.

In 2013 London, Dr. Quinn Allenby is straight off a nasty breakup and home from a successful archeological trip to Jerusalem when she receives a new task. A pair of skeletons was found in a chest, a makeshift coffin with evidence to show that neither person was dead when they were left alone in the dark. She’s approached by a producer who wants her to head a historical drama show, featuring the mysterious skeleton, and implores her to find the true story by any means necessary. Using her special skills, Quinn sets off to give them back their identities. But as she works to discover the skeletons’ pasts, her own comes into clearer focus.

Two women, centuries apart, brought together by chance and a blue brooch that holds the secret behind the hidden chest.

One of the hardest parts about writing reviews is that sometimes you need to leave out some of the best parts, as to not spoil anything. All I can say is that Quinn has certain abilities that ties her to Elise in a way she can’t fully explain. As more of Elise’s life is revealed, the deeper Quinn’s character development goes. She lives her life alongside Elise’s past in a seamless way that Shapiro should be congratulated for. It’s difficult to time hop without confusing readers or muddling the stories, but everything is crystal clear in this book by the end.

As a historian, I love to take note of the bits and pieces in all historicals I read. Shapiro’s book was a a fine example of a well researched piece. The food, clothing, ailments, and accessories such as birthing chairs and plague doctors were slipped in naturally, setting up the time period without it being forced. Still, Elise and her loved ones had personalities that transcended time.

The narration of The Lovers was wonderful. Wolfson’s voice was clear and easy to get lost in. The pace was perfect and the slight changes in the characters through their own voices wasn’t overdone or cartoonish as some are. Usually I limit my audiobook listening to car rides and dog walks, but I found myself listening to this one almost nonstop until the end.

Overall, if you couldn’t tell, I loved this book. I could see it as a movie with the same thrilling, dramatic feel as The Da Vinci Code or Tulip Fever. In ebook, paperback, or audiobook, this is the perfect read for lovers of thrillers, romance, and mysteries.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different, and didn’t want it to end. I will miss the characters.
I will also look in to other books from this author right away!

I loved this book! Two stories, past and present, woven together through the main character, Quinn. Although I knew how it was going to end, I truly enjoyed the journey to get there.

I like the telling of two stories at the same time.

A solid 4.5/5 for me. In a sea of bad boys, bllionaires, bad boy billionaires, rockers, and athletes, this was quite an interesting and very different story. This is part of a trilogy, therefore there are several unanswered questions at the end. If you aren’t ready to read ‘The Forgotten’ and wait for ‘The Unforgiven’, then don’t start this one. Well edited.

This is the second book by Ms. Shapiro that I have read. Like the first one, it has 2 stories running, separate but connected. This one begins with the discovery of a chest with two skeletons entwined together in death. They are quickly dubbed ‘The Lovers’ by the media, and Dr. Gabriel Russell and his colleague, Dr. Quinn Allenby, are called in to consult.

The story of ‘The Lovers’ takes place in 1664-1665, when women were treated as little more than property. Elise wakes one day to find herself sold in marriage by her father to one Lord Asher to partially settle a debt. She is quite devastated, as she had planned to marry her father’s employee, Gavin. However, she has no say in the matter, her entire life at the mercy of her father. Lord Asher is roughly 30 years older than Elise, and he has had a wife, as well as at least one mistress. On her wedding day, Lord Asher informs her that she is expected to deliver him an heir, and any other children he desires. What follows is a heartbreaking tale of how and why Elise winds up in the chest.

Meanwhile, Dr. Quinn Allenby has the ability to hold objects and see and feel the life of the deceased who possessed said object. She is an archaeologist, and this gift comes in quite handy. Since there are objects left from both of The Lovers, Quinn is able to get a really good understanding of the entirety of their story. Her own life is also the subject of this book. She was abandoned shortly after birth in a church, and subsequently adopted by a wonderful couple. However, as many adoptees do, she wants to know the story of her origins. Who were her birth parents? Where do they come from? How did she get this psychic gift? In addition, she has recently come home from a dig to find her long time boyfriend has moved out, moved to America, and moved on. Her colleague, Gabriel, has long had feelings for Quinn, and jumps at the chance to finally declare his feelings. Quinn struggles to deal with the break-up of her long time relationship and with the realization of Gabe’s feelings for her. The discovery of The Lovers, also brings Rhys Morgan into her life. He is a producer for the BBC, and wants to produce a show about the discovery and any other interesting archaeological find. Rhys turns out to be tied to Quinn’s past in a most unsettling way.

By the end, The Lovers have been entombed, Quinn has some answers to her past – but more questions, and Quinn and Gabe are moving forward with their life together.

Overall, this is a very moving story. As far as it is possible to hate a fictional character, I hate Edward Asher. His motivation and subsequent actions are just horrid. It is important in understanding Elise to remember how things were done in her time period. Elise would have had little to no say about anything in her life. Until she married, she was under the power and control of her father. Once married, she was under the power and control of her husband. While love did exist, it was generally not the driving force in decision making. Rather, decisions were made on advantage and profitability. Would this marriage be beneficial to our family, our standing in society, or financially? Elise doesn’t protest her marriage, mostly because she really can’t, but also because her refusal would bring financial ruin on her family and ruin marriage prospects for her younger sisters. Shortly after her marriage, she finds that all she has ever been to the men in her life is a means to an end. There are so many other aspects that should be considered before judging Elise as weak. She lived in a time when men held absolute power, fear of crossing certain lines and thereby imperiling your soul was real, and just surviving day to day took courage and determination. In the end, to have even grasped the small amount of happiness she did took great courage.

I look forward to the remaining stories, hoping that some of my questions will be answered along the way. Enjoy.

Echos of the past 4 book series is a real page turner . Each story is heart stopping excitement .