Author: Deborah Swift
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Pan MacMillan
Publish Date: October 24, 2013
Source: HF Virtual Book Tours
Why You're Reading This Book:
- You're a historical fiction fan.
- You like armchair traveling.
From Goodreads.com: "Elspet Leviston’s greatest ambition is to continue the success of her father Nathaniel’s lace business. But her dreams are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of her mysterious cousin Zachary Deane – who has his own designs on Leviston’s Lace.
Zachary is a dedicated swordsman with a secret past that seems to invite trouble. So Nathaniel sends him on a Grand Tour, away from the distractions of Jacobean London. Elspet believes herself to be free of her hot-headed relative but when Nathaniel dies her fortunes change dramatically. She is forced to leave her beloved home and go in search of Zachary - determined to claim back from him the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
Under the searing Spanish sun, Elspet and Zachary become locked in a battle of wills. But these are dangerous times and they are soon embroiled in the roar and sweep of something far more threatening, sending them both on an unexpected journey of discovery which finally unlocks the true meaning of family . . .
A Divided Inheritance is a breathtaking adventure set in London just after the Gunpowder Plot and in the bustling courtyards of Golden Age Seville."
My Two Cents:
"A Divided Inheritance" is the story of Elspet, a young woman who dreams of taking over her father's lace business but this is the 1600s and if there's a male heir, well you can probably guess what that means... This book follows Elspet as she navigates her divided inheritance. This book also discusses a lot about religion, which was sort of a division of the day in that time period.
I really enjoyed reading about Elspet and Zachary. I sort of wish that more of the book focused on their relationship but on the other hand, I'm not sure what I would trade out to have more focus on their relationship as I loved all of the action (and yes, there is a lot of action). Elspet believes Zachary to be her cousin but later finds out that he is more than that and therefore Elspet's father will divide his inheritance even though Elspet believes everything should go to her. Elspet could have come off as a very spoiled character but Swift allows us to see exactly where she is coming from, which really sold me on her. I loved following her throughout this book. Zachary was also fascinating to me.
The book takes place in both England and Spain. In England, Catholics (which Elspet is) are under attack and can't practice their religion as they would like. In Spain, the Catholic majority is trying to press out the Moriscos (the Muslim Moors). I really thought that Swift did a fantastic job of bringing both of these societies to life. This book allows plenty of room for some great armchair traveling to both London and Seville, Spain.
There are so many different layers to this story. There are the great characters and their personal war with each other but there are also the bigger stories of religion and war between those of different religions. It is a truly fascinating novel!
Follow the Rest of the Tour:
Wednesday, October 23
Review at Unabridged Chick
Thursday, October 24
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Friday, October 25
Review at Luxury Reading
Monday, October 28
Review at Historical Tapestry and The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Tuesday, October 29
Review & Guest Post at A Bookish Libraria
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Wednesday, October 30
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Thursday, October 31
Review at The Most Happy Reader
Friday, November 1
Interview at Layered Pages
Monday, November 4
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Tuesday, November 5
Guest Post at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Wednesday, November 6
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Thursday, November 7
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, November 8
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Monday, November 11
Review & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court
Tuesday, November 12
Review at Reading the Past
Wednesday, November 13
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at Let Them Read Books
Thursday, November 14
Review & Giveaway at The Eclectic Reader
Friday, November 15
Review at Book of Secrets
Monday, November 18
Review at HF Book Muse-News
Tuesday, November 19
Review at Griperang’s Bookmarks
Guest Post at HF Book Muse-News
Wednesday, November 20
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Thursday, November 21
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Friday, November 22
Review at The True Book Addict
Monday, November 25
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Tuesday, November 26
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Wednesday, November 27
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook
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