What Kind of Sacrifice Would You Make?



The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio is a featured Read For Pink book this year.  I am
becoming a fan of Sarah’s writing and I hope you will too!

Synopsis:

The narrators of this story are Addison and Flora.  Let me tell you about Flora’s story first.  Her story begins in the 1940s.  She comes from modest means where her parents own a bakery in New York City.  One day a customer offers Flora a very special job.  All she has to do is go to England and become a nanny to the children at the Livingston Manor.  Flora must also identify the camellia there named Middlebury Pink.   So Flora arrives and begins her search.  What will Flora find?  Will it be the Middlebury Pink or something much more precious?

Addison is married to Rex her husband.   Her story takes place in the present. She also has a secret from her past.  One that could possibly destroy the happiness that she has carefully fought for.   Rex’ parents now own the Livingston Manor house.  The happy couple decides to make a trip there.  It will also let Rex explore a new novel that he wants to write.  There are many mysteries to the house.  Will Addison be able to solve the mystery of The Middlebury Pink or will her past catch up with her?

My Thoughts:

This novel is good!  I just had a hard time keeping my interest in it.  Sarah does a great job of telling a story from two different perspectives  and time periods.  One being Flora’s from the 1940s and then Addison’s from today.  The tone set in this novel totally brought out that there is something mysterious.  I just had a hard time liking the characters or wanting to fight for them.

Botany is one of the main subjects in this novel.  This supports the history mentioned about the Middlebury Pink Camellia.  I thought it was interesting that both Flora and Addison had an interest or had studied Botany at one point.

Readers will enjoy this novel and it is worth a read.  I will definitely read more by Sarah Jio in the future.

Rating:

4/5

Please visit Sarah on her Facebook page, Twitter, or Her website.

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