The Book Wheel

Books, Politics, & More

  • Genres
    • Sortable Archive
      • Reviews by Author
      • Reviews by Genre
      • Reviews by Title
    • #30Authors
      • #30Authors Reviews
      • Lineup
    • Fiction
      • Historical Fiction
      • Mystery/Thriller
    • Non-Fiction
      • Biography
      • Economic
      • Memoir
      • Science/Tech/Psychology
      • True Crime
    • Political
    • More Options
      • 1001 List
      • Classics
      • Diverse
  • Book Club Picks
  • Lists
  • Other
    • Blogging
    • Career
    • Discussions
    • Lifestyle
    • Productivity
  • About
    • Accolades
    • Advertising
    • Policies
    • Resources
      • Authors
      • Contributors
    • What is a ‘Book Wheel’?

Lucinda Riley’s is a House Worth Entering

November 15, 2012 by Allison Hiltz 9 Comments

Lucinda Riley’s is a House Worth EnteringThe Orchid House by Lucinda Riley
Also by this author: The Girl on the Cliff
Published by Atria Books on February 14, 2012
Genres/Lists: Fiction
Pages: 449
Read synopsis on Goodreads
Buy the book: Amazon/Audible (this post includes affiliate links)four-stars


As an avid Kate Morton fan, I was thrilled to discover an author that was rumored to be similar in style. While I had previously heard the name Lucinda Riley, it wasn’t until this comparison was made that I took the time to find out what books she had written. Even then, I was wary. Morton has a way of weaving rich tales without leaving any loose ends (an amazing feat given what she undertakes) and I wasn’t sure Riley could pull it off. But now that I have finished my first book by her ( thanks to Apocalypse Mama for her giveaway), I can definitely say that a comparison to Morton is warranted.

I would be remiss if I didn’t compare this to House at Riverton because The Orchid House is about two families (one being the “help” that are inextricably linked to the same house, Wharton Park. But, from here I will draw no more comparisons because Riley’s novel is fully capable of standing on its own merit.

Like most good literary fiction, this one starts out slow as it acquaints the reader with the main characters. Fluctuating between generations, Riley does a great job of keeping the reader in the loop and clearly distinguishing between families and lineages (many authors take this for granted and it can detract from the value of the story). The first half of the book develops pretty steadily but loses steam in the second half when it switches its focus to a new character.

The second half seems a bit scattered. It is also very well-developed, but I get the feeling that Riley enjoyed her characters a bit more in the first half. There aren’t any loose ends, per se, but the writing fell a little flat and was missing the spark that drove the first half. Despite this, the book was wonderful. It is a testament to the intricate storyline and the amazing unraveling of the story itself that even the flat writing in the second half is easily overlooked. If you are looking for a book that you can curl up by the fireplace with this winter, then I definitely recommend this book!

Click here  for Kate Morton reviews

Related Posts

  • Same Genre
  • 4 Star Books
  • Atria Books
The Why of Things by Elizabeth Hartley Winthrop
Exploring Grief and ‘The Why of Things’
City of Thieves by David Benioff
‘City of Thieves’ is Captivating
Celeste Ng’s Portrait of Hope and Regret (Book Review)
Bird's Nest
Conquering the Classics: The Bird’s Nest by Shirley Jackson
killing lincoln
“Killing Lincoln: Mini Review
the hearts of men by nickolas butler
Nickolas Butler Strikes Again in ‘The Hearts of Men’
The Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage
Resolve by J.J. Hensley
‘Resolve’ – A Thriller You’ll Love to Race Through
scrappy little nobody by anna kendrick
Kendrick’s ‘Scrappy Little Nobody’ Not Your Typical Celebrity Memoir
Say Yes to Y by Marjorie Celona
The Lake House
The Lake House by Kate Morton
‘Secret Keeper’ Is the Story of Love Lost and Found
distant hours
“The Distant Hours” by Kate Morton
He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker
K.A. Tucker Delivers in ‘He Will Be My Ruin’
the clockmakers daughter by kate morton
‘The Clockmaker’s Daughter’ Takes a Stylistic Leap, and…..

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction

Email Newsletter

Sign up to get new reviews in your inbox the day they go live.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Upcoming Reviews

Allison's books

Searching for Sylvie Lee
Searching for Sylvie Lee
by Jean Kwok
A Woman Is No Man
A Woman Is No Man
by Etaf Rum
The Leavers
The Leavers
by Lisa Ko

goodreads.com

Trending Now

Take an Emotional Journey With ‘Marigolds’

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica (Book Review)

The End of Loneliness and How the Past Blinds Us to the Future

Unwind With The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman

The Shore by Sara Taylor (Book Review)

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

In the Quest for Happiness, Do We Forgo the Power of Meaning?

Content may not be reposted in full or without permission. This site includes affiliate links.

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in