Book Review – ENDLESS LOVE by James MacManus
Endless Love Synopsis :
Soon after moving from London, Rose Loxton discovers strange things are occurring at her new lodge in the Cotswolds. A dark, terrible history hangs over this place; one of unfinished and unconventional love. Rose must investigate the mystery of an affair that broke all boundaries and ended in calamity… (Endeavour Press)
BOOK REVIEW
The recipe of of James MacManus’ latest novel Endless Love features all the right ingredients for escapist, light reading – alternating storylines (present and historical), an interesting leading character, a mystery to unravel plus a dash of cozy romance.
She and Neil had both accepted that their relationship had floundered and, as a sinking ship settles slowly into the sea, the end was inevitable. They clung to the wreckage for Helen, of course. The truth was Rose would be happier this way. Stable Lodge was an idyll in which she could recreate herself, an escape from everything she hated about London.
As a closet fan of those British Escape to the Country television shows I quickly warmed to the newly found independence of Rose and her ‘sea change’ adventure. MacManus’ prose made much of the country scenery and location and for the most part evoked a sense of beauty and elegance.
But, at some point about halfway through this novel, my connection with leading lady Rose faltered. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what happened – perhaps she stopped growing for me, become a little too programmatic, the linkages between her life and the subject matter of her writing began feeling a little contrived?
While my interest in the historical storyline kept me reading until Endless Love’s conclusion, the work never quite recaptured the glow I experienced at its outset.
A wonderful recipe for light escapist reading which for me failed to completely rise in the baking.
BOOK RATING: The Story 3 / 5 ; The Writing 2.5 / 5
Available from:
Amazon
Genre: Historical, Romance, Mystery
Author Information: James MacManus is the managing director of The Times Literary Supplement. He is the author of ‘Sleep in Peace Tonight’, ‘Black Venus’ and ‘Ocean Devil: The Life and Legend of George Hogg’, which was made into a film starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and The Language of the Sea. He lives in London.
– Check out James MacManus’ website
* My receiving a copy of this book from Endeavour Press for review purposes did not impact the expression of my honest opinions in the review above.
