The Fairbairn Fortunes

April 11, 2016
In this aggressively melodramatic novel, Parker (The Granville Legacy) leaps from tragedy to tragedy in the lives of the Fairbairn sisters. If it wasn’t for bad luck, these women would have no luck at all. The story opens in 1913 England with sisters Laura, Diana, Flora, Catriona, Lizzie, Georgie, and Beattie gathered for Christmas. By 1914, Lizzie’s husband discovers she’s having an affair with a much younger man, who later dies in WWI. Fast-forward to 1919, and it’s Beattie’s husband who is having an affair with his secretary, which ends tragically. In 1920, the girls’ mother dies and Catriona, the sister relegated to looking after her mother, is devastated, as her mother’s will dictates the sale of the home Catriona thought she’d stay in forever. Shortly thereafter, Beattie nearly dies in childbirth trying to give her husband the son he’s always longed for. There’s not much opportunity for plot in between all of the tragedies, a series of horrible events tied together only by blood relation. The women’s children are selfish brats and the half-hearted ending sputters to a stop without resolving many issues. The book is marketed as historical romance, but there’s simply nothing here for fans of the genre.

April 15, 2016
Parker continues the captivating saga of the eight Fairbairn sisters, following the weddings, births, affairs and deaths, the triumphs and tragedies. Set in Scotland and London around the time of WWI, the latest installment finds the entire Fairbairn clan reuniting for Christmas at the country estate of eldest sister Diana. During their stay, Lizzie makes a shocking revelation to her sister Laura, while Laura's spoiled daughter, Caroline, manages to offend her cousins with her mean attitude. But war is about to break out, and the lives of the Fairbairns will soon change forevera dreadful suicide, a divorce, the birth of a new baby, and, of course, a happy wedding all play a role in the vast, far-ranging tale. A lively and entertaining story line, authentic period details, charming characters, a few tugs at the heartstrings, and a surprise ending make for an engaging read for saga fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)