Forbidden Places

September 15, 2010
Vincenzis latest sprawling saga is set in the WWII-era English countryside and revolves around the ordeals of three young women. Virginal Grace Marchant is just 19 when she meets Charles Bennett, the wealthy, remote man who becomes her husband. Though Grace feels a kinship with Charles father, shes put off by his cold mother and haughty sister, Florence. Florence is married to Robert, whose apparently genial nature masks the cruelty with which he treats his wife. Unaware of Roberts abusive ways, Grace is shocked and disgusted when she discovers Florence is seeking comfort in the arms of another man. Grace is also thrown when she learns Florences best friend, the glamorous and newly married Clarissa, was once engaged to Charles, and shes perturbed that neither Clarissa nor Charles will reveal to her why their engagement ended. Vincenzi does an admirable job of evoking the bustle and fears of wartime England, and providing plenty of juicy plot twists and turns to keep readers hooked.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)