Review & Giveaway: THE LEGACY OF EDEN by Nelle Davy
The story is told by Meredith from present day with a lot of flash backs, much before Meredith was even born. It all started when her grandfather was called back to the family farm to his father's deathbed. He inherits the farm, even though his brother is the one who took it over when their father couldn't run it any longer.
Cal has an affair with an already married Lavinia. She settled for her husband because he was a doctor, so had some status in town. However she is bored silly with the older, conservative man. She soon divorces and marries Cal. When she moves to Aurelia, she makes grand plans to make it the richest farm in the Iowa town. Cal goes along with her plans every step of the way but as the family grows they have more and more secrets. Lavinia is a master manipulator and gets her husband, younger sons and grandsons to do her bidding. Aurelia turns out to be a beautiful place after Lavinia gets done with it, but for the family that inhabits it, there is a bitter history. The Legacy of Eden is an epic family saga. Through the eyes of Meredith we learn the family secrets of betrayal and abuse.
Nelle Davy swooped me into the story and never let go. This book will haunt me for many years to come. In fact I read it a few months ago and cannot get it out of my mind. Her writing is fresh and vivid. My only complaint, and it is fairly minor is that when it came to a girl in town, Lavinia's manipulations were a unbelievable to me. That said, I felt like I was part of the family living through the tragedies and abuse. I read at night and I spent two sleepless nights reading this novel. It is hard to sleep when your heart is pounding so hard!4/5
Also reviewed by:Books and Needlepoint
Colloquium
Please come back to So Many Precious Books on February 19th for an excerpt as my part in the Scavenger Hunt. To see the entire scavenger hunt schedule click here.
Thanks to Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. for this book and for offering a copy for me to giveaway to one of my lucky readers.a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Great review, this is definitely a book I would enjoy reading.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
Marjorie/cenya2 said... February 10, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Oh heck, US only please delete my entry.
Marjorie/cenya2 said... February 10, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Thanks for this fascinating giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
traveler said... February 10, 2012 at 9:50 AM
I've really been wanting to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway!
Michelle Stockard Miller said... February 10, 2012 at 12:02 PM
What a great review and giveaway. Thanks for this chance. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
petite said... February 10, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Sounds like a great book, love saga type stories!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
holdenj said... February 10, 2012 at 12:13 PM
I have heard of this book before. It sounds just as good now as it did when I first heard of it. I would love to read it.
mom1248(at)att(dot)net
Anonymous said... February 10, 2012 at 1:45 PM
I love this cover!
Unknown said... February 10, 2012 at 7:35 PM
I haven't read a saga type story in a long time. This one sounds good!
Carol M said... February 12, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway. I still think about 2 books that I read around 20+ years ago that did the same to me as this book did to you. I still think of those 2 books often and how I felt I was a part of the family living through the tragedies.
:) Jeanne, jeannebates_t@yahoo.com
momma8385 said... February 12, 2012 at 7:33 PM
Thank you for the opportunity to win this book, I have been looking forward to reading it for a while :)
Anonymous said... February 15, 2012 at 3:55 PM
I don't know why my comment came up as annonymous, but the previous comment was mine, Tiffany Drew :)
Tiffany Drew said... February 15, 2012 at 3:56 PM
I have been wanting to read this book. I love the fact that it contains family secrets. Thanks for this chance.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Anita Yancey said... February 15, 2012 at 4:22 PM
I will be reading this book very soon, so I'm so glad to see you liked it. If it'll haunt you for years down the road, then it must be good!
Anonymous said... February 16, 2012 at 8:55 AM
I can't wait to read this book, so many secrets.
Clenna at aol dot com
clenna said... February 19, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Looks like a very gripping book. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Margie said... February 21, 2012 at 4:03 AM
I've heard some good things about this one. Thanks for the giveaway!
nfmgirl AT gmail dOT com
nfmgirl said... February 23, 2012 at 4:14 PM
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