Publication
Thorndike, Maine : Center Point Large Print, 2015.
Collection
Call number
Large Print Fiction L
Physical description
424 p.; 23 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
Fiction. Romance. Suspense. Historical Fiction. HTML: "There are no secrets that time does not reveal." -Jean Racine Savannah, Georgia �?? 1858 Celia Browning dreams of the day when her childhood sweetheart Sutton Mackay comes home to Savannah after two years in Jamaica managing his family's shipping interests. Sutton has all but proposed, and their marriage will unite two of the city's most prominent families. But just as Sutton returns, a newspaper reporter arrives in town, determined to pry into twin tragedies that took place at the Browning mansion on Madison Square when Celia was a child. The unsavory journalist continues to unearth the Browning family's dark past, and Celia begins to receive threatening anonymous notes, along with a bracelet imbued with a chilling message. As the clouds of war gather over Savannah and her beloved father's health worsens, Celia realizes that her family's past has the power to destroy her future and decides to uncover the truth about what really happened all those years ago. Inspired by actual events in one of Savannah's most prominent 19th-century families, The Bracelet is the story of a young southern woman whose dreams fracture under the weight of her family's tragic past.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member SilversReviews
Diamond. Emerald. Amethyst. Diamond
= D. E. A. D.
A bracelet that mysteriously appeared on Celia Browning's nightstand was a bracelet she thought was from her fiancee, but once she saw what the individual jewels spelled out, she knew it wasn't good.
Celia Browning was the daughter of a wealthy
Celia couldn't tell her father about any of these odd situations because he wasn't well. Her cousin, Ivy, was the only one who knew about the mysterious note but not the bracelet. Who should Celia tell, and when should Celia tell someone?
Could her uncle really have murdered his wife? What was this incident that happened so many years ago, and why does someone want to dredge it up again?
THE BRACELET gives the reader a glimpse into wealthy households and appears to be about the Browning family and how they fit into society, but underneath all of that, it is a murder mystery that Celia needs to solve for her own peace of mind.
Are there family secrets and perhaps a murderer hidden within all that southern hospitality and charm? Does a red diary with clues truly exist and have the answers to the 20-year-old mystery?
THE BRACELET was an enjoyable, clever read with just enough suspense to keep you guessing about who the culprit is that was sending gifts and leaving notes and who it is that wanted to ruin the Browning family but why now?
I enjoyed THE BRACELET because of the setting and the time period. Ms. Love definitely gave a perfect portrayal of wealthy, Southern life in the 1800's along with the added bonus of intrigue about the murder. The ending is definitely a surprise and quite a good one.
Don't miss reading THE BRACELET. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the author and pubslisher in return for an honest review.
= D. E. A. D.
A bracelet that mysteriously appeared on Celia Browning's nightstand was a bracelet she thought was from her fiancee, but once she saw what the individual jewels spelled out, she knew it wasn't good.
Celia Browning was the daughter of a wealthy
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merchant and a descendant of a family member who died in their home about 20 years ago. The death was said to be a suicide, but others believed it was a murder. Now just when she was finally going to be wed to her childhood sweetheart, nosy newspaper men began to question what happened and began causing trouble by printing articles in the paper, having people follow and frighten Celia, and leaving mysterious notes and gifts in the house.Celia couldn't tell her father about any of these odd situations because he wasn't well. Her cousin, Ivy, was the only one who knew about the mysterious note but not the bracelet. Who should Celia tell, and when should Celia tell someone?
Could her uncle really have murdered his wife? What was this incident that happened so many years ago, and why does someone want to dredge it up again?
THE BRACELET gives the reader a glimpse into wealthy households and appears to be about the Browning family and how they fit into society, but underneath all of that, it is a murder mystery that Celia needs to solve for her own peace of mind.
Are there family secrets and perhaps a murderer hidden within all that southern hospitality and charm? Does a red diary with clues truly exist and have the answers to the 20-year-old mystery?
THE BRACELET was an enjoyable, clever read with just enough suspense to keep you guessing about who the culprit is that was sending gifts and leaving notes and who it is that wanted to ruin the Browning family but why now?
I enjoyed THE BRACELET because of the setting and the time period. Ms. Love definitely gave a perfect portrayal of wealthy, Southern life in the 1800's along with the added bonus of intrigue about the murder. The ending is definitely a surprise and quite a good one.
Don't miss reading THE BRACELET. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the author and pubslisher in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member CinaChilders
I must admit that The Bracelet was a little hard to get into in the beginning. I tossed the book aside at least twice, but then I finally settled down and read the book. It didn't grab me or really make me fall in love with any of the characters, they were mostly bland with some exceptions of Celia
The setting of Savannah was interesting and very well done. The mystery in this story was not necessarily the I-have-to-know-now kind. Instead, it was more like -can-we-just-get-on-with-it. And in the end, I remained pretty much indifferent to everything. I don't hate the book or like it very much, but don't let that keep you from it if you think it sounds interesting to you.
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and Sutton. But even they were dull at times. I can't quite get myself to like Sutton because I still have some odd mistrust/dislike of him.The setting of Savannah was interesting and very well done. The mystery in this story was not necessarily the I-have-to-know-now kind. Instead, it was more like -can-we-just-get-on-with-it. And in the end, I remained pretty much indifferent to everything. I don't hate the book or like it very much, but don't let that keep you from it if you think it sounds interesting to you.
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LibraryThing member BettyTaylor56
The story is set in 1858 in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah, being only a two-hour drive from where I live, is always a great setting. Savannah itself seems to be a major character in stories. “The Bracelet” has elements of history, romance, mystery, and intrigue. Celia has always been in love with
The daughters of two sisters are at the heart of this story. The sisters died early and the cousins were raised by Celia’s father and his housekeeper Mrs. Maguire. I really enjoyed the story but had to give it only four stars as one plotline was much too easily solved. However there were plenty of other twists and turns that kept me involved in the story.
The publishing house of HarperCollins graciously provided copies of this book to my book club which is reading it now. We will discuss it at our meeting later this month.
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Sutton, and he with her. He is in the shipping business and has just returned from several years in Jamaica. Trouble is brewing in the nation’s young capitol as North and South prepare to face off over the slavery issue. But also arriving in Savannah is a journalist, determined to find out the truth about two deaths in Celia’s family home. Celia begins receiving threatening notes and a bracelet that sends a chilling message – death. Her father’s health is rapidly failing. The daughters of two sisters are at the heart of this story. The sisters died early and the cousins were raised by Celia’s father and his housekeeper Mrs. Maguire. I really enjoyed the story but had to give it only four stars as one plotline was much too easily solved. However there were plenty of other twists and turns that kept me involved in the story.
The publishing house of HarperCollins graciously provided copies of this book to my book club which is reading it now. We will discuss it at our meeting later this month.
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LibraryThing member Sarah_Gruwell
I've got to give the author kudos for the historical details she incorporated and the research she did to set her novel. I felt like I really was in 1858 Savannah, from the dirty wharves, the bright gaslights, and the pageantry and glitter of rich parties. The author also incorporates a ton of
The story overall was intriguing. The high drama of family secrets, dying loved ones, an upcoming wedding, and the faint rumbling of the Civil War on the horizon all made for a potent mix. I was kept intrigued enough that I wanted to find out what happened next. Yet, there were times I felt the author was a bit unbalanced with her storytelling. There were parts where it just seemed the characters were going from place to place, not doing anything. Some of the action stuff seemed to come out of left field as well. The whole fire thing seemed very out of place.
The characters… Oy vey…. I liked them enough to be bound into their story, let’s start with that. I wanted to know if they lived or died. But there seemed some real problems with flat characterizations. I felt Celia was too perfect, always beautiful, always forgiving, always compassionate… You get the picture. Sutton was every teenage girl’s dream boy, dedicated to honor, love, and her. And Ivy was too manipulative and stupid for me. I can maybe see why she might be that way with her background, but overall her character also came off as slightly Sniddley Whiplash to me. Maybe some warts on Celia or happiness for Ivy would have balanced this part out.
The historical details and story saved this book for me. It was a dramatic telling with a few slides into melodrama and slow pacing. But overall, I was kept fascinated. The characters will make you roll your eyes and sigh in frustration. In the end, though, I grew to care for their fates and relationships. I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy antebellum South fiction; it definitely has that right. Just be prepared for a few disappointments along the way.
Note: Book received for free from publisher through Net Galley in exchange for honest review.
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historical events to set her novel firm historically within the conversations of her characters. There were a few times where this was a bit forced, like the author was trying too hard maybe, but overall it was very well done. I got the ambiance of the antebellum South loud and clear.The story overall was intriguing. The high drama of family secrets, dying loved ones, an upcoming wedding, and the faint rumbling of the Civil War on the horizon all made for a potent mix. I was kept intrigued enough that I wanted to find out what happened next. Yet, there were times I felt the author was a bit unbalanced with her storytelling. There were parts where it just seemed the characters were going from place to place, not doing anything. Some of the action stuff seemed to come out of left field as well. The whole fire thing seemed very out of place.
The characters… Oy vey…. I liked them enough to be bound into their story, let’s start with that. I wanted to know if they lived or died. But there seemed some real problems with flat characterizations. I felt Celia was too perfect, always beautiful, always forgiving, always compassionate… You get the picture. Sutton was every teenage girl’s dream boy, dedicated to honor, love, and her. And Ivy was too manipulative and stupid for me. I can maybe see why she might be that way with her background, but overall her character also came off as slightly Sniddley Whiplash to me. Maybe some warts on Celia or happiness for Ivy would have balanced this part out.
The historical details and story saved this book for me. It was a dramatic telling with a few slides into melodrama and slow pacing. But overall, I was kept fascinated. The characters will make you roll your eyes and sigh in frustration. In the end, though, I grew to care for their fates and relationships. I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy antebellum South fiction; it definitely has that right. Just be prepared for a few disappointments along the way.
Note: Book received for free from publisher through Net Galley in exchange for honest review.
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LibraryThing member Sandralb
I did enjoy this book. Dorothy Love has a beautiful way with words. Her description of the scenes and actions going on, took you right here. I found the main characters a little weak and some of the story line not quite plausible. Over all it is a well written southern romance and mystery novel.
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
Like the author, I visited the Sorrel-Weed House in Savannah a few years ago and was fascinated by the house's history. This novel, however, disappointed me as a rather pale reflection of that fascinating and rich history. In addition, this is a novel about a very wealthy family living in the
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pre-Civil War South and, perhaps because of the current reckoning with this history, the way the characters talked about slavery and the looming war felt a bit wrong to me. For example, the main characters often proudly point out that they do not own slaves and don't support the practice, yet the central male character announces his intention to construct a ship for the purpose of evading a wartime blockade. In addition, much of what those in the wealthy merchant class are buying, selling, and shipping is cotton, so they're still very much participating in an economy based on slavery. Perhaps a northern like me just can't understand, but I would appreciate a more nuanced depiction of this area that incorporates the brutality and contradictions these people would have lived with, instead of just a romantic vision. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9781628994773