Tall Poppies

April 1, 2012
Orphaned and forced into service, thanks to her parents' debts, Livia is the maid at Foxglove House. Her gentle nature endears her to Margaret, the lady of the house, who makes provisions for Livia and her siblings, Chad and Esme, in her will. After Margaret's death, Livia cares for her estate and Margaret's son, Richard, who was gravely injured in WWI. Over time, the two develop feelings for one another, and when Richard's lecherous father rapes and impregnates Livia, Richard marries her and claims the baby as his own. Those feelings quickly intensify into love, even as they know Richard will never live long enough to meet the baby who will be his heir. After Richard's death, Livia's love life turns even more complicated, though with a happy conclusion. Popular British-born, Australia-based writer Woods (Lady Lightfingers, 2011) writes a gentle, pleasant romance about a woman whose grace is justly rewarded.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)