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The Seven Sisters #4
The Pearl Sister
CeCe D’Aplièse has never felt she fitted in anywhere. Following the death of her father, the elusive billionaire Pa Salt – so-called by the six daughters he adopted from around the globe and named after the Seven Sisters star cluster – she finds herself at breaking point. Dropping out of art college, CeCe watches as Star, her beloved sister, distances herself to follow her new love, leaving her completely alone.
In desperation, she decides to flee England and discover her past; the only clues she has are a black-and-white photograph and the name of a woman pioneer who lived in Australia over one hundred years ago. En-route to Sydney, CeCe heads to the one place she has ever felt close to being herself: the stunning beaches of Krabi, Thailand. There amongst the backpackers, she meets the mysterious Ace, a man as lonely as she is and whom she subsequently realises has a secret to hide . . .
A hundred years earlier, Kitty McBride, daughter of an Edinburgh clergyman, is given the opportunity to travel to Australia as the companion of the wealthy Mrs McCrombie. In Adelaide, her fate becomes entwined with Mrs McCrombie’s family, including the identical, yet very different, twin brothers: impetuous Drummond, and ambitious Andrew, the heir to a pearling fortune.
When CeCe finally reaches the searing heat and dusty plains of the Red Centre of Australia, she begins the search for her past. As something deep within her responds to the energy of the area and the ancient culture of the Aboriginal people, her creativity reawakens once more. With help from those she meets on her journey, CeCe begins to believe that this wild, vast continent could offer her something she never thought possible: a sense of belonging, and a home . . .
The Pearl Sister is the fourth book in the number one international bestselling Seven Sisters series.
702 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2017
About the author
Lucinda Riley
98 books10.5k followersAKA: Lucinda Edmonds
Lucinda Riley was born in Northern Ireland, and after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold thirty million copies worldwide. She is a No.1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller.
Lucinda’s The Seven Sisters series, which tells the story of adopted sisters and is inspired by the mythology of the famous star cluster, has become a global phenomenon. The series is a No.1 bestseller across the world with total sales of over fifteen million copies.
Lucinda and her family divided their time between the U.K. and a farmhouse in West Cork, Ireland, where she wrote her books.
Lucinda Riley was born in Northern Ireland, and after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold thirty million copies worldwide. She is a No.1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller.
Lucinda’s The Seven Sisters series, which tells the story of adopted sisters and is inspired by the mythology of the famous star cluster, has become a global phenomenon. The series is a No.1 bestseller across the world with total sales of over fifteen million copies.
Lucinda and her family divided their time between the U.K. and a farmhouse in West Cork, Ireland, where she wrote her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,909 reviews
December 3, 2017
Fantastic addition to the Seven Sisters series! I think I say this after each one I read, but I think this has been my favorite. It seems to take me a bit to get into each new story only because I’m trying to put all the sisters stories into order. However, once I got to know Kitty I was hooked. I love that Riley is able through this series to take her readers to different remote places across the globe and teach them something about these places while they’re there. So excited to continue these sisters stories. 5 stars.
January 1, 2018
Wenn das Bücherjahr 2018 mit einem so tollen Buch startet, kann es nur ein gutes Omen sein!
Lucinda Riley ist einfach eine Meisterin der Familiengeschichten 😍
Lucinda Riley ist einfach eine Meisterin der Familiengeschichten 😍
June 28, 2020
Endlich war ich in der Stimmung diese Reihe weiterzulesen, aber ich wollte Band 4 aufgrund der Orte an denen dieses Buch spielt, so gerne im Sommer lesen. Außerdem hatte ich mal wieder Lust auf eine Familiengeschichte. Das einzige Genre, wo ich das ganze Drama gerne verfolge!
In diesem Buch geht es um CeCe, die mir in den vorigen Büchern wirklich unsympathisch war (dahingehend bin ich auch mal sehr gespannt auf Elektrons Buch), hier mochte ich sie aber doch nach einiger Zeit sehr gerne. Man lernt sie und ihre Beweggründe hier sehr gut kennen und es erschien mir alles doch recht nachvollziehbar.
Wie immer bei der Sieben Schwestern Reihe mochte ich die Geschichte, die in der Vergangenheit spielt noch ein bisschen lieber als die aus der Gegenwart. Denn hier haben wir mit Kitty eine - vor allem für damalige Verhältnisse - sehr starke weibliche Protagonistin. Ich habe so mit ihr mitgefiebert und -gelitten. Auch wenn ich nicht all ihre Entscheidungen gutheißen konnte bzw. mir eine andere Entscheidung für den Fortgang der Geschichte gewünscht hätte.
Lucinda Riley schafft es hier wie immer meisterhaft Orte und Länder zu beschreiben. Man sieht alles bildlich vor sich, auch wenn ich bisher weder in Thailand noch in Australien war, kam es mir so vor als würde ich bekannte Orte wiedersehen.
Einziger Kritikpunkt ist für mich der Erzählstrang, der in Thailand spielt, da ich ihn für die Geschichte doch eher unnötig fand und er auch für mich nicht gut zu Ende erzählt war.
In diesem Buch geht es um CeCe, die mir in den vorigen Büchern wirklich unsympathisch war (dahingehend bin ich auch mal sehr gespannt auf Elektrons Buch), hier mochte ich sie aber doch nach einiger Zeit sehr gerne. Man lernt sie und ihre Beweggründe hier sehr gut kennen und es erschien mir alles doch recht nachvollziehbar.
Wie immer bei der Sieben Schwestern Reihe mochte ich die Geschichte, die in der Vergangenheit spielt noch ein bisschen lieber als die aus der Gegenwart. Denn hier haben wir mit Kitty eine - vor allem für damalige Verhältnisse - sehr starke weibliche Protagonistin. Ich habe so mit ihr mitgefiebert und -gelitten. Auch wenn ich nicht all ihre Entscheidungen gutheißen konnte bzw. mir eine andere Entscheidung für den Fortgang der Geschichte gewünscht hätte.
Lucinda Riley schafft es hier wie immer meisterhaft Orte und Länder zu beschreiben. Man sieht alles bildlich vor sich, auch wenn ich bisher weder in Thailand noch in Australien war, kam es mir so vor als würde ich bekannte Orte wiedersehen.
Einziger Kritikpunkt ist für mich der Erzählstrang, der in Thailand spielt, da ich ihn für die Geschichte doch eher unnötig fand und er auch für mich nicht gut zu Ende erzählt war.
March 14, 2018
Well, this book is nothing short of spectacular! I cannot begin to explain the joy and fulfillment I get from reading the books in this series. In addition to the first book, The Seven Sisters, The Pearl Sister is my favorite. I absolutely fell in love with Kitty and her story. Set in Australia, I truly felt as if I was taken into another world. It takes me quite some time to get through these books - mainly because I don’t want to miss a single detail - I am fully immersed! I can’t wait for Tiggy’s story next!
September 28, 2019
I think I've said this with each consecutive book, but this is my favourite in the series so far!
I'm glad I read 'The Shadow Sister' and 'The Pearl Sister' so close together, because Star and CeCe sort of go hand in hand (though these stories are about then breaking away from each other, growing into two separate people as opposed to a pair).
I mentioned this before, but CeCe really annoyed me in the previous three books. However, as I'd hoped, getting her story made me fall in love with her and I might even go as far to say she is now my favourite sister! CeCe's journey was fantastic. There's a section in Thailand, before she heads to Australia to find out her family history.
I love stories set in the hot, dusty parts of Australia. It's a place I like to visit via books but have no desire to actually go in real life - I don't think I'd handle the heat, the dust or the flies. I really enjoyed following along as CeCe learned more about her heritage, especially the information I got about Aboriginal art. I Googled the artists mentioned and the work was incredible, though I'm sure even more impressive in person rather than a phone screen!
The historical sections feature Kitty McBride, a Scottish clergyman's daughter, who over one hundred years earlier finds herself self in Australia. I loved her and her tragic tale -- and finding out just how she was connected to CeCe.
I find this series gets stronger with each book, as I suppose they all build upon each other, and each one reveals a tiny bit more about Pa Salt -- but I mean a tiny bit. He remains as mysterious and almost mythological as ever.
I'm starting 'The Moon Sister' now, and I'm really looking forward to learning more about Tiggy, who has intrigued me the most of all the sisters.
I'm glad I read 'The Shadow Sister' and 'The Pearl Sister' so close together, because Star and CeCe sort of go hand in hand (though these stories are about then breaking away from each other, growing into two separate people as opposed to a pair).
I mentioned this before, but CeCe really annoyed me in the previous three books. However, as I'd hoped, getting her story made me fall in love with her and I might even go as far to say she is now my favourite sister! CeCe's journey was fantastic. There's a section in Thailand, before she heads to Australia to find out her family history.
I love stories set in the hot, dusty parts of Australia. It's a place I like to visit via books but have no desire to actually go in real life - I don't think I'd handle the heat, the dust or the flies. I really enjoyed following along as CeCe learned more about her heritage, especially the information I got about Aboriginal art. I Googled the artists mentioned and the work was incredible, though I'm sure even more impressive in person rather than a phone screen!
The historical sections feature Kitty McBride, a Scottish clergyman's daughter, who over one hundred years earlier finds herself self in Australia. I loved her and her tragic tale -- and finding out just how she was connected to CeCe.
I find this series gets stronger with each book, as I suppose they all build upon each other, and each one reveals a tiny bit more about Pa Salt -- but I mean a tiny bit. He remains as mysterious and almost mythological as ever.
I'm starting 'The Moon Sister' now, and I'm really looking forward to learning more about Tiggy, who has intrigued me the most of all the sisters.
February 23, 2018
Die sieben Schwestern haben mich den ganzen Februar über begleitet und ich habe keine Ahnung wie ich es aushalten soll bis band 5 erscheint 😭
March 1, 2022
Ah, Lucinda, Lucinda. We meet again, on another tech-free holiday. I tend to take Lucinda Riley books on holidays because they are long, not totally boring, and are devoid of anything intellectual.
Pro:
1. Good historical research
The author does a good job of painting the early days of settlement in Australia, from the racial challenges to the annoying elite. And I really appreciate that she acknowledged the genocide and brutality Europeans committed.
Cons:
1. Writing.
Sometimes her writing is adequate, sometimes I just want to yell a bit at the nonsensicalness of it.
Please, look at this nightmare sentence: "Pulling on her woollen vest and fastening the buttons of her dress across her long, white throat, she scraped her mane of auburn hair off her face and into a coil on the top of her head" (P.83). It reads like the fanfiction I wrote when I was 12. Sure, you need to be descriptive when writing, you need to paint a picture. Not that much though? The book is filled with sentences like this, but less than some of her older works. I also found her use of Australian slang and pidgin English cringeworthy. While I understand pidgin English is absolutely a real thing, the execution in the book was flawed. WHERE IS YOUR EDITOR. I WILL EDIT YOUR BOOKS.
2. Forbidden love+ surprise pregnancy
This is starting to get really boring and happens in every one of her books.
3. Threads that have no point and lead nowhere
The London banker she meets in Thailand? What was the point of that? That she knows how to make a friend?
I want to like this series, because it is SUCH a good idea. The way it is working out though is just awful. Two stars because it was okay enough that I wanted to find out what happened to the characters in the end. Will probably take the next one on holiday next year. *sigh*
I also reviewed 2 and 6.
Pro:
1. Good historical research
The author does a good job of painting the early days of settlement in Australia, from the racial challenges to the annoying elite. And I really appreciate that she acknowledged the genocide and brutality Europeans committed.
Cons:
1. Writing.
Sometimes her writing is adequate, sometimes I just want to yell a bit at the nonsensicalness of it.
Please, look at this nightmare sentence: "Pulling on her woollen vest and fastening the buttons of her dress across her long, white throat, she scraped her mane of auburn hair off her face and into a coil on the top of her head" (P.83). It reads like the fanfiction I wrote when I was 12. Sure, you need to be descriptive when writing, you need to paint a picture. Not that much though? The book is filled with sentences like this, but less than some of her older works. I also found her use of Australian slang and pidgin English cringeworthy. While I understand pidgin English is absolutely a real thing, the execution in the book was flawed. WHERE IS YOUR EDITOR. I WILL EDIT YOUR BOOKS.
2. Forbidden love+ surprise pregnancy
This is starting to get really boring and happens in every one of her books.
3. Threads that have no point and lead nowhere
The London banker she meets in Thailand? What was the point of that? That she knows how to make a friend?
I want to like this series, because it is SUCH a good idea. The way it is working out though is just awful. Two stars because it was okay enough that I wanted to find out what happened to the characters in the end. Will probably take the next one on holiday next year. *sigh*
I also reviewed 2 and 6.
November 22, 2017
As usual a fast and easy read. I had some issues with the writing and character portrayal... For example CeCe didn't know what genocide is??? And who Darwin was?? Being dyslexic doesn't mean you are lacking general knowledge! I always love the tales Lucinda Riley spins so was really fun to read. I don't get what Ace had to do with anything. I feel like the end of that storyline was a let down.
January 9, 2019
You can also see this review and the rest of Seven Sisters reviews at my blog: https://umutreviews.wordpress.com/201...
'I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard that my father had died, I thought to myself as I stared out of the window and saw the complete blackness of the night. Intermittently below me, there were small clusters of twinkling lights indicating human habitation, each light containing a life, a family, a set of friends....None of which I felt I had any longer'
...opens The Pearl Sister, very exotic story of Cece, the fourth sister in The Seven Sister series.
This book is the 4th book of the seven book series inspired by the ancient myth of the Seven Sisters of Pleiades. There's a wealthy man (whom the girls call Pa) who adopts 6 baby girls and names them after the Seven Sisters star galaxy. Maia, the beauty; Ally, the leader; Star, the peacemaker; CeCe, the pragmatist; Tiggy, the nurturer; and Electra, the fireball. They live in a mansion in Switzerland. They have a Nanny who looked after them all their lives (Ma). 7th sister (Merope) is also a mystery, as everybody expected him to complete the fleet with the 7th sister. However, she is missing, and we don't know the reason behind it. One day, Pa dies suddenly of heart attack and leaves different clues to each sister to find their origins.
Each book is a story of one sister trying to find their origins and their adventures while doing that. So, we go back and forth between present day and the past while we learn about their real families. We will have the 7th book tie everything together after reading about the 6 sisters.
This book is the adventure of the 4th sister, Cece, to find her heritage. She is one exotic looking young woman, the artist of the family, and in my opinion the most complex of the sisters so far. She has amber-flecked eyes and skin the colour of dark butterscotch. This gives us clues already that she has a diverse heritage. And eventually, we follow a very interesting story taking place in a land far far away. Cece and Star (The Shadow Sister) joined the family just after one another, and became inseparable since then. Star, being short of her words, Cece finds herself speaking for both of them. She's very extrovert, and maybe too much at times. But, we discover her vulnerable self behind that strong front, and how she struggles to find her self worth.
I will say as little as possible about where and when the story takes place, as I would love everybody to go through the journey and have their own surprises as I did. I would really recommend you to read as little as possible upfront. I enjoyed in every book to discover where the clues take them, as it's a part of the mystery. In this one particularly, I found the events of the past, very thought provoking and interesting to learn about. The writing is very beautiful, very lyrical as it always is with Lucinda Riley. Her books are to immerse yourself in and enjoy the journey, different from a thriller/mystery that you rush for the ending. Here, it's not the destination, but the journey :) So, the length of the books didn't bother me in any of them (they are on average 700 pages each!).
I have only one criticism for the books, since we now are on the 4th book. I love the stories that take in the past and how they bring us to the real family of our sisters. However, the story line of the past, all follow the same 'lost love' concept because of some unfortunate events. It started to feel like a soap opera. The stories of the girls in the present day are much more diverse and original, different than one another. I hope we can see the same diversity in the next book for the past as well.
I also have some news. Apparently, this series is coming to TV!! I would love to watch it. You can read more information here:
https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/fi...
The 5th book, which will be Tiggy's story is also coming in Autumn according to Lucinda Riley's page. She was writing it in Scottish Highlands, also researching for it. So, we know a part of the location :) Can't wait!
'I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard that my father had died, I thought to myself as I stared out of the window and saw the complete blackness of the night. Intermittently below me, there were small clusters of twinkling lights indicating human habitation, each light containing a life, a family, a set of friends....None of which I felt I had any longer'
...opens The Pearl Sister, very exotic story of Cece, the fourth sister in The Seven Sister series.
This book is the 4th book of the seven book series inspired by the ancient myth of the Seven Sisters of Pleiades. There's a wealthy man (whom the girls call Pa) who adopts 6 baby girls and names them after the Seven Sisters star galaxy. Maia, the beauty; Ally, the leader; Star, the peacemaker; CeCe, the pragmatist; Tiggy, the nurturer; and Electra, the fireball. They live in a mansion in Switzerland. They have a Nanny who looked after them all their lives (Ma). 7th sister (Merope) is also a mystery, as everybody expected him to complete the fleet with the 7th sister. However, she is missing, and we don't know the reason behind it. One day, Pa dies suddenly of heart attack and leaves different clues to each sister to find their origins.
Each book is a story of one sister trying to find their origins and their adventures while doing that. So, we go back and forth between present day and the past while we learn about their real families. We will have the 7th book tie everything together after reading about the 6 sisters.
This book is the adventure of the 4th sister, Cece, to find her heritage. She is one exotic looking young woman, the artist of the family, and in my opinion the most complex of the sisters so far. She has amber-flecked eyes and skin the colour of dark butterscotch. This gives us clues already that she has a diverse heritage. And eventually, we follow a very interesting story taking place in a land far far away. Cece and Star (The Shadow Sister) joined the family just after one another, and became inseparable since then. Star, being short of her words, Cece finds herself speaking for both of them. She's very extrovert, and maybe too much at times. But, we discover her vulnerable self behind that strong front, and how she struggles to find her self worth.
I will say as little as possible about where and when the story takes place, as I would love everybody to go through the journey and have their own surprises as I did. I would really recommend you to read as little as possible upfront. I enjoyed in every book to discover where the clues take them, as it's a part of the mystery. In this one particularly, I found the events of the past, very thought provoking and interesting to learn about. The writing is very beautiful, very lyrical as it always is with Lucinda Riley. Her books are to immerse yourself in and enjoy the journey, different from a thriller/mystery that you rush for the ending. Here, it's not the destination, but the journey :) So, the length of the books didn't bother me in any of them (they are on average 700 pages each!).
I have only one criticism for the books, since we now are on the 4th book. I love the stories that take in the past and how they bring us to the real family of our sisters. However, the story line of the past, all follow the same 'lost love' concept because of some unfortunate events. It started to feel like a soap opera. The stories of the girls in the present day are much more diverse and original, different than one another. I hope we can see the same diversity in the next book for the past as well.
I also have some news. Apparently, this series is coming to TV!! I would love to watch it. You can read more information here:
https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/fi...
The 5th book, which will be Tiggy's story is also coming in Autumn according to Lucinda Riley's page. She was writing it in Scottish Highlands, also researching for it. So, we know a part of the location :) Can't wait!
January 19, 2018
Poignant, enthralling, and exceptionally moving!
The Pearl Sister, the fourth instalment in the The Seven Sisters series, is predominantly set in the dusty Australian heat during both the early 1900s and twenty-first century as it delves into the life, ancestors, and heritage of CeCe, the struggling, awkward artist who seems adrift and in desperate need of some inspiration, companionship, and contentment.
The prose is expressive, eloquent, and heartfelt. The characters are complex, genuine, and endearing. And the plot is a compelling, heartwarming saga filled with familial drama, introspection, love, loss, grief, determination, passion, and loyalty, as well as an in-depth look at the culture, history, and politics of Australia, including the effects and influence of both the aboriginal people and the pearling industry.
The Pearl Sister is hands down another mesmerizing, superbly written time-slip novel by Riley that continues to highlight her incredible talent and imagination as a masterful researcher and storyteller.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Atria Books, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
The Pearl Sister, the fourth instalment in the The Seven Sisters series, is predominantly set in the dusty Australian heat during both the early 1900s and twenty-first century as it delves into the life, ancestors, and heritage of CeCe, the struggling, awkward artist who seems adrift and in desperate need of some inspiration, companionship, and contentment.
The prose is expressive, eloquent, and heartfelt. The characters are complex, genuine, and endearing. And the plot is a compelling, heartwarming saga filled with familial drama, introspection, love, loss, grief, determination, passion, and loyalty, as well as an in-depth look at the culture, history, and politics of Australia, including the effects and influence of both the aboriginal people and the pearling industry.
The Pearl Sister is hands down another mesmerizing, superbly written time-slip novel by Riley that continues to highlight her incredible talent and imagination as a masterful researcher and storyteller.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Atria Books, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
October 19, 2018
The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley was an excellent historical novel, the fourth in a series of books about six young women who had all been adopted as babies and brought up as sisters.
The girls are devastated when their father dies and they all come home for the funeral. They are all given letters written by their father with clues to their natural parents.
This fourth book in the series is about CeCe who travels to Australia in search of her family.
The girls are devastated when their father dies and they all come home for the funeral. They are all given letters written by their father with clues to their natural parents.
This fourth book in the series is about CeCe who travels to Australia in search of her family.
April 9, 2022
Das Hörbuch ist gut eingesprochen und die Sprechstimmen sind angenehm. Etwas anstrengend war zu Beginn die „deutsche“ Aussprache der Namen, welche für mich falsch klangen, nachdem ich Band 1-3 gelesen hatte und CeCe im Kopf z.B. englisch aussprach. Hier wird sie „ZeZe“ gesprochen, was mich immer wieder irritierte.
Die Geschichte selbst hat mir von allen 4 Bänden am wenigsten gefallen, was allerdings am Strang in der Gegenwart liegt:
CeCe war ganz anders dargestellt als in den vorherigen Bänden. Die Erklärungen dafür waren mit nicht stark genug. Wer vorher die dominantere Schwester ist, die ihre gleichaltrige Schwester immer etwas unterdrückt und herumkommandiert hat (so wirkte es in den Vorbänden) ist hier auf einmal recht kleinlaut und anstrengend unselbstständig.
Die „Thailand-Story“ war für mich etwas nervig, übertrieben melodramatisch und ganz und gar unauthentisch. Besonders die Auflösung. Das war ein bisschen zu viel des Guten.
Die Malerei ist nicht unbedingt mein Thema und auch hier fällt CeCe von einer guten Szene in die nächste und wird von positiven Zufällen getragen.
Die Vergangenheit mit der starken Kitty Mercer und ihrem Schicksal war dagegen toll und spannend. Vielleicht auch hier nicht immer authentisch, aber interessant. Hier habe ich mich am liebsten aufgehalten. Das Setting Australien und die Infos zu den Aborigines war natürlich genau mein Ding.
Ich denke die Reihe werde ich als Hörbücher weiterverfolgen, weil das mit den zwei Zeitebnen und nur zwei Protagonistinnen sehr gut klappt.
Die Geschichte selbst hat mir von allen 4 Bänden am wenigsten gefallen, was allerdings am Strang in der Gegenwart liegt:
CeCe war ganz anders dargestellt als in den vorherigen Bänden. Die Erklärungen dafür waren mit nicht stark genug. Wer vorher die dominantere Schwester ist, die ihre gleichaltrige Schwester immer etwas unterdrückt und herumkommandiert hat (so wirkte es in den Vorbänden) ist hier auf einmal recht kleinlaut und anstrengend unselbstständig.
Die „Thailand-Story“ war für mich etwas nervig, übertrieben melodramatisch und ganz und gar unauthentisch. Besonders die Auflösung. Das war ein bisschen zu viel des Guten.
Die Malerei ist nicht unbedingt mein Thema und auch hier fällt CeCe von einer guten Szene in die nächste und wird von positiven Zufällen getragen.
Die Vergangenheit mit der starken Kitty Mercer und ihrem Schicksal war dagegen toll und spannend. Vielleicht auch hier nicht immer authentisch, aber interessant. Hier habe ich mich am liebsten aufgehalten. Das Setting Australien und die Infos zu den Aborigines war natürlich genau mein Ding.
Ich denke die Reihe werde ich als Hörbücher weiterverfolgen, weil das mit den zwei Zeitebnen und nur zwei Protagonistinnen sehr gut klappt.
Read
March 5, 2018*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
It is CeCe D’Aplièse’s story that features front and centre in Lucinda Riley’s latest masterpiece series, The Pearl Sister. CeCe is a young woman who has always felt ill at ease in her surroundings, unable to find a sense of peace or home. The death of her beloved father Pa Salt sends her into further despair. England no longer feels like home to CeCe so she makes a rash decision to abandon ship and travel to find her family roots in Australia. Her only clue to her hidden past, which was revealed to her after her father’s death, is a mysterious black and white photograph. This photograph, along with the name of a woman who made a life for herself in Australia over a century ago holds the key to CeCe’s past. Making her way to Australia, CeCe diverts her trip down under to stop over in Thailand. On the exotic beaches of Thailand, CeCe falls into the arms of Ace, a man with many secrets. When CeCe finally makes it to Australia, the story of her past unfolds, involving a young woman named Kitty McBride, from Edinburgh, who made the trek to Australia over a century ago. CeCe discovers that Kitty’s life has ties to her own. At the same time, she negotiates new feelings in love, her culture and her aspirations in the art world. Australia, despite its stark contrast to her life in London and upbringing in Switzerland, awakens something special in CeCe, something she will not be able to leave behind.
Every year since Lucinda Riley has introduced her Seven Sisters series, I sit rather impatiently waiting for the next edition to be published. I have been eagerly waiting for my chance to read The Pearl Sister and as I have come to expect with all Lucinda Riley’s novels, this one was another excellent read. The Pearl Sister is another bulky book, at over 600 pages long, but do not let the breadth of this book intimidate you in any way. I found the pages literally fly away once I settled in comfortably to read this book. I do always ensure I set a bulk of time aside to enjoy this book in close sittings, as I often find it impossible to put any of Riley’s books down! I will also mention if you are new to the series you can read these books as standalone novels. Riley is careful to include plenty of detail and a strong back story, so you never feel out of the loop.
I wasn’t quite sure in the beginning if I was going to connect to CeCe, the main protagonist of The Pearl Sister. Going on her personality traits and flashes of behaviour I have seen in the previous novels of this series, CeCe seemed a little immature for my liking. My doubts were soon cast aside when I settled into CeCe’s adventures and interesting quest to find her family. I loved her immediate growth and maturity that developed soon after she left England. The sequences in exotic Thailand, took me right back to this perfect holiday retreat, which I have personally visited in the past. Riley presents this setting with plenty of vivid detail. I liked the inclusion of Ace, the mysterious man who CeCe encounters in Thailand. It added both romance and an extra thread of mystery to the novel.
When CeCe arrives in Australia, the past narrative thread soon kicks off. As with all of the previous novels in this series, Riley always balances a contemporary storyline, with a family link to the past. It is this storyline that is rich in historical detail and romance. I found that the past narrative generally helps to drive present day story forward. CeCe’s story is carefully linked to Kitty McBride, a woman who arrived in Australia over a century ago, from Scotland. Riley’s approach to this historical narrative is impressive to say the least. Although I have read a good deal of books set around the pioneering days of Australia and the pearling industry in Broome, I was amazed by the accuracy and detail included in this aspect of the novel. So too is Riley’s commitment to including an honest account of the lives of our indigenous over a century ago. Riley includes the effects of the Stolen Generation and the impact of aboriginal missions, which are still being felt today. All credit is due to Riley and her dedication to her research in this area of her latest novel.
I always love how each and every one of the books in this addictive series is able to combine a number of genres in the one unforgettable novel. If you select The Pearl Sister to read, expect a touch of romance, a contemporary storyline, a touch a mystery and a full bodied historical fiction novel. I was enthralled by CeCe’s individual journey and the events that unfolded brought plenty of twists, turns and surprises. When I reached the close of the book, I really did not want it to end, as I know now I have a big wait ahead of me for the next chapter in the series, The Moon Sister. Thankfully, Riley keeps fans of the series happy and morale high with the tantalising sneak peek into the next sister’s story, Tiggy’s quest to uncover her origins. I can’t wait! Thank you for another monumental novel in the Seven Sisters series Lucinda Riley.
*I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
4.5 stars
It is CeCe D’Aplièse’s story that features front and centre in Lucinda Riley’s latest masterpiece series, The Pearl Sister. CeCe is a young woman who has always felt ill at ease in her surroundings, unable to find a sense of peace or home. The death of her beloved father Pa Salt sends her into further despair. England no longer feels like home to CeCe so she makes a rash decision to abandon ship and travel to find her family roots in Australia. Her only clue to her hidden past, which was revealed to her after her father’s death, is a mysterious black and white photograph. This photograph, along with the name of a woman who made a life for herself in Australia over a century ago holds the key to CeCe’s past. Making her way to Australia, CeCe diverts her trip down under to stop over in Thailand. On the exotic beaches of Thailand, CeCe falls into the arms of Ace, a man with many secrets. When CeCe finally makes it to Australia, the story of her past unfolds, involving a young woman named Kitty McBride, from Edinburgh, who made the trek to Australia over a century ago. CeCe discovers that Kitty’s life has ties to her own. At the same time, she negotiates new feelings in love, her culture and her aspirations in the art world. Australia, despite its stark contrast to her life in London and upbringing in Switzerland, awakens something special in CeCe, something she will not be able to leave behind.
Every year since Lucinda Riley has introduced her Seven Sisters series, I sit rather impatiently waiting for the next edition to be published. I have been eagerly waiting for my chance to read The Pearl Sister and as I have come to expect with all Lucinda Riley’s novels, this one was another excellent read. The Pearl Sister is another bulky book, at over 600 pages long, but do not let the breadth of this book intimidate you in any way. I found the pages literally fly away once I settled in comfortably to read this book. I do always ensure I set a bulk of time aside to enjoy this book in close sittings, as I often find it impossible to put any of Riley’s books down! I will also mention if you are new to the series you can read these books as standalone novels. Riley is careful to include plenty of detail and a strong back story, so you never feel out of the loop.
I wasn’t quite sure in the beginning if I was going to connect to CeCe, the main protagonist of The Pearl Sister. Going on her personality traits and flashes of behaviour I have seen in the previous novels of this series, CeCe seemed a little immature for my liking. My doubts were soon cast aside when I settled into CeCe’s adventures and interesting quest to find her family. I loved her immediate growth and maturity that developed soon after she left England. The sequences in exotic Thailand, took me right back to this perfect holiday retreat, which I have personally visited in the past. Riley presents this setting with plenty of vivid detail. I liked the inclusion of Ace, the mysterious man who CeCe encounters in Thailand. It added both romance and an extra thread of mystery to the novel.
When CeCe arrives in Australia, the past narrative thread soon kicks off. As with all of the previous novels in this series, Riley always balances a contemporary storyline, with a family link to the past. It is this storyline that is rich in historical detail and romance. I found that the past narrative generally helps to drive present day story forward. CeCe’s story is carefully linked to Kitty McBride, a woman who arrived in Australia over a century ago, from Scotland. Riley’s approach to this historical narrative is impressive to say the least. Although I have read a good deal of books set around the pioneering days of Australia and the pearling industry in Broome, I was amazed by the accuracy and detail included in this aspect of the novel. So too is Riley’s commitment to including an honest account of the lives of our indigenous over a century ago. Riley includes the effects of the Stolen Generation and the impact of aboriginal missions, which are still being felt today. All credit is due to Riley and her dedication to her research in this area of her latest novel.
I always love how each and every one of the books in this addictive series is able to combine a number of genres in the one unforgettable novel. If you select The Pearl Sister to read, expect a touch of romance, a contemporary storyline, a touch a mystery and a full bodied historical fiction novel. I was enthralled by CeCe’s individual journey and the events that unfolded brought plenty of twists, turns and surprises. When I reached the close of the book, I really did not want it to end, as I know now I have a big wait ahead of me for the next chapter in the series, The Moon Sister. Thankfully, Riley keeps fans of the series happy and morale high with the tantalising sneak peek into the next sister’s story, Tiggy’s quest to uncover her origins. I can’t wait! Thank you for another monumental novel in the Seven Sisters series Lucinda Riley.
*I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Want to read
June 20, 2020Now that I'm reading Star's story in The Shadow Sister, I know that The Pearl Sister is about the artistic, outspoken Ceecee, who at night is tormented by nightmares she doesn't talk about, who makes art but doesn't brag about it, who has dyslexia, and loves Star in a codependent way. I didn't care much for Star's story by the end, so I hope I like this book more.
So, I now know for a fact that the anagram for D’Aplièse and Pa Salt is for the legend of Atlas and the Hesperides.
So, I now know for a fact that the anagram for D’Aplièse and Pa Salt is for the legend of Atlas and the Hesperides.
March 13, 2023
Obecnie najmniej lubiana część, a pamiętam, że pare lat temu uwielbiałam;0
November 7, 2017
There are times when I want to immerse myself in a novel and capture that feeling of sinking into a favourite armchair with my cosiest blanket with, more than likely, a large glass of rosé on the side. Lucinda Riley's novels have always given me that "hygge" feeling and The Pearl Sister is exactly the kind of comfort reading I need on darkening Autumnal evenings.
I haven't read all of the previous "sisters" series but this works perfectly well as a standalone novel. This is the story of Cece who feels isolated after being estranged from her sister Star. We follow her quest for self-discovery firstly in Thailand and then in Australia.
I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying Cece on her journey. If you have a particular aversion to coincidences in fiction, then perhaps this isn't for you but if, like me, you loved sagas like Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Woman of Substance, then this series will be ideal.
I haven't read all of the previous "sisters" series but this works perfectly well as a standalone novel. This is the story of Cece who feels isolated after being estranged from her sister Star. We follow her quest for self-discovery firstly in Thailand and then in Australia.
I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying Cece on her journey. If you have a particular aversion to coincidences in fiction, then perhaps this isn't for you but if, like me, you loved sagas like Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Woman of Substance, then this series will be ideal.
September 1, 2022
Book #4
I am so intrigued with this series. The family dynamics are amazing. The story takes you through the history of multi generations and identifies the sister's family connections.
When reading this series you have to have your pencil and paper ready to journal the family tree because it is just that deep.
The story definitely puts me on a quest to outline my family history.
The audio is very long but it is also very engaging.
I wanted to give this book 5 stars but some parts of the story were a little drawn out and not necessary.
I am so intrigued with this series. The family dynamics are amazing. The story takes you through the history of multi generations and identifies the sister's family connections.
When reading this series you have to have your pencil and paper ready to journal the family tree because it is just that deep.
The story definitely puts me on a quest to outline my family history.
The audio is very long but it is also very engaging.
I wanted to give this book 5 stars but some parts of the story were a little drawn out and not necessary.
March 13, 2023
CeCe is Misunderstood
CeCe and Star have always come as a pair. Star the quiet one great with literature and speaks very little, CeCe speaks for them both and virtually overwhelms Star and they even have their own form of sign language to communicate.
Star has found her path now CeCe must stand on her own. How will she cope? Can she carve out a life for herself and finally find what and who she is as a person. Armed with clues Pa Salt her adopted father left her she heads to Australia although she is well travelled Australia is the country she has so far avoided due to its critters etc.
Once in Australia she attempts to find out about her background, through her discovery she finds more than she could ever have expected and will she finally find her true path……
This was the book I was not looking forward to but how wrong was I? The back story is intriguing and I feel like I finally understood CeCe
*Re-Read*
I have to say this review still stands and I have really enjoyed rediscovering Cece’s journey.
CeCe and Star have always come as a pair. Star the quiet one great with literature and speaks very little, CeCe speaks for them both and virtually overwhelms Star and they even have their own form of sign language to communicate.
Star has found her path now CeCe must stand on her own. How will she cope? Can she carve out a life for herself and finally find what and who she is as a person. Armed with clues Pa Salt her adopted father left her she heads to Australia although she is well travelled Australia is the country she has so far avoided due to its critters etc.
Once in Australia she attempts to find out about her background, through her discovery she finds more than she could ever have expected and will she finally find her true path……
This was the book I was not looking forward to but how wrong was I? The back story is intriguing and I feel like I finally understood CeCe
*Re-Read*
I have to say this review still stands and I have really enjoyed rediscovering Cece’s journey.
March 21, 2018
5 - "So far, it's been an utter... Adventure." Stars!
There aren’t many authors I’d willingly sign up to read a 700+ page book by, but Lucinda Riley’s work is definitely one of the illustrious few that I have absolutely no problem saying yes to in that regard. The Pearl Sister perfectly highlighted why, because it never felt like I was reading a book of that length.
The past is who I am…
The story the author told, took me to present day Thailand, Australia and the UK, as well as Scotland in the early 1900’s and on a boat voyage to Australia in those times as well, and as with every other book, interweaved two women’s lives perfectly together in its telling.
As usual, I felt left out, not part of the crowd…
CeCe D’Aplièse is up this time, and having found her a little dislikeable in the previous book I was interested to read of the origins of this adopted woman’s blood lineage. This is a character who has already displayed quite a strong personality, so much so that she had pretty much took over the running of her closest sisters Skye’s life, but that changed in the previous book; The Shadow Sister as Skye discovered her past, and met her future, a future that didn’t solely revolve around doing what CeCe thought was best for them as a duo.
"Everyone I love leaves me…"
This unexpected separation leaves CeCe floundering, and not used to being in charge of herself solely, the book displayed very quickly that this is a woman who although on first assumptions appears very confident, almost arrogantly so on the outside, is actually suffering from a huge lack of self-belief when she looks at herself on a deeper level. The journey she then takes to discover her true self is an unputdownable read.
I felt like I’d been reborn. Like all the bits of me that hadn’t fitted… had been stripped down and rearranged.
Alongside CeCe’s incredible journey, you are also given the story of Kitty McBride, a Scottish ministers daughter, who leaves the dreary shores for Australia as a Ladies maid in 1906, her story is tied closely to CeCe’s but it’s not until further down the line that you actually link everything together fully, by that point you are literally immersed in the lives of these two very different women.
"It’s time now, isn’t it..? For us…"
I think the authors own words succinctly sum up my thoughts about how highly I rate this book for the quality story-telling and depth of background for everything that happens –
I am a fiction novelist, but I take the background research to my novels as seriously as any historian.
Never a truer word was written, and once again it delivered an absolutely outstanding read to add to The Seven Sisters series as a whole. Tiggy is up next later this year in The Moon Sister and from the little glimpse you get of her at the end of this one, I cannot wait too read where the author takes her on her journey of discovery, and who she will meet along the way.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
There aren’t many authors I’d willingly sign up to read a 700+ page book by, but Lucinda Riley’s work is definitely one of the illustrious few that I have absolutely no problem saying yes to in that regard. The Pearl Sister perfectly highlighted why, because it never felt like I was reading a book of that length.
The past is who I am…
The story the author told, took me to present day Thailand, Australia and the UK, as well as Scotland in the early 1900’s and on a boat voyage to Australia in those times as well, and as with every other book, interweaved two women’s lives perfectly together in its telling.
As usual, I felt left out, not part of the crowd…
CeCe D’Aplièse is up this time, and having found her a little dislikeable in the previous book I was interested to read of the origins of this adopted woman’s blood lineage. This is a character who has already displayed quite a strong personality, so much so that she had pretty much took over the running of her closest sisters Skye’s life, but that changed in the previous book; The Shadow Sister as Skye discovered her past, and met her future, a future that didn’t solely revolve around doing what CeCe thought was best for them as a duo.
"Everyone I love leaves me…"
This unexpected separation leaves CeCe floundering, and not used to being in charge of herself solely, the book displayed very quickly that this is a woman who although on first assumptions appears very confident, almost arrogantly so on the outside, is actually suffering from a huge lack of self-belief when she looks at herself on a deeper level. The journey she then takes to discover her true self is an unputdownable read.
I felt like I’d been reborn. Like all the bits of me that hadn’t fitted… had been stripped down and rearranged.
Alongside CeCe’s incredible journey, you are also given the story of Kitty McBride, a Scottish ministers daughter, who leaves the dreary shores for Australia as a Ladies maid in 1906, her story is tied closely to CeCe’s but it’s not until further down the line that you actually link everything together fully, by that point you are literally immersed in the lives of these two very different women.
"It’s time now, isn’t it..? For us…"
I think the authors own words succinctly sum up my thoughts about how highly I rate this book for the quality story-telling and depth of background for everything that happens –
I am a fiction novelist, but I take the background research to my novels as seriously as any historian.
Never a truer word was written, and once again it delivered an absolutely outstanding read to add to The Seven Sisters series as a whole. Tiggy is up next later this year in The Moon Sister and from the little glimpse you get of her at the end of this one, I cannot wait too read where the author takes her on her journey of discovery, and who she will meet along the way.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
April 5, 2018
I have so far read all the books published in this series except the second one and it's such a wonderful series. I really love how reach book takes one of the sisters through a journey, not only to a faraway country, like Australia in this book, but also a journey into the past.
The best dual storyline books are the ones where both tales are equally interesting and Lucinda Riley has managed to achieve that with this book. I loved how the contemporary story first takes the reader to Thailand and then to Australia as CeCe searches for clues to her past. One thing I really liked was that the expected love story didn't occur. I'm always pleased when a writer managed to surprise me and I'm delighted with the way the storyline took when it came to CeCe's private life.
The second storyline, the one set a century before with Kitty McBride traveling from Edinburgh to Adelaide, it was just as interesting, although the romantic part in this storyline was a much more expected. Still, I love getting a story set in Australia, learning more about the Aboriginal people and the unjust treatment they got. If there is one subject that always makes my blood boil is the white man's treatment of the natives in whatever land they set their eyes on.
I want to end this review by saying that the books don't need to be read in order, yes it's probably wise to read from the beginning, but you quickly get to hang on the story, the background for all the adoptions, etc. in each book. The different sisters make appearances in each other's stories and I quite liked that since I grew fond of each sister I get to know.
I want to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy through Netgalley for an honest review!
The best dual storyline books are the ones where both tales are equally interesting and Lucinda Riley has managed to achieve that with this book. I loved how the contemporary story first takes the reader to Thailand and then to Australia as CeCe searches for clues to her past. One thing I really liked was that the expected love story didn't occur. I'm always pleased when a writer managed to surprise me and I'm delighted with the way the storyline took when it came to CeCe's private life.
The second storyline, the one set a century before with Kitty McBride traveling from Edinburgh to Adelaide, it was just as interesting, although the romantic part in this storyline was a much more expected. Still, I love getting a story set in Australia, learning more about the Aboriginal people and the unjust treatment they got. If there is one subject that always makes my blood boil is the white man's treatment of the natives in whatever land they set their eyes on.
I want to end this review by saying that the books don't need to be read in order, yes it's probably wise to read from the beginning, but you quickly get to hang on the story, the background for all the adoptions, etc. in each book. The different sisters make appearances in each other's stories and I quite liked that since I grew fond of each sister I get to know.
I want to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy through Netgalley for an honest review!
August 25, 2021
Świetna historia choć główna bohaterka nie przypadła mi na początku do gustu. Najbardziej lubię historie przodków sióstr, są naprawdę wyjątkowe.
February 2, 2018
I felt that it could have been 300 pages shorter. The entire Thailand part was irrelevant. I enjoyed the Australia part.
April 26, 2023
Foarte fain și intens acest volum.
Mi-au plăcut foarte mult personajele și decorurile
Mi-au plăcut foarte mult personajele și decorurile
January 9, 2018
Cuarta entrega de la serie de las siete hermanas. Había leído alguna que otra reseña que decían que era la parte más floja de las cuatro y a mi en cambio, ha sido una de mis favoritas y eso que CeCe, la hermana en la que está centrada esta historia, es la que menos me convencía de todas.
En este caso, CeCe se pondrá en búsqueda de sus orígenes, lo que le llevará a investigar sobre Kitty, una de las mujeres perleras más importantes de Australia y con la que al parecer está emparentada. Para ello, recorreremos gran parte de Australia y conoceremos tanto detalles de su arte como la pintura y su pintor más famoso a múltiples historias y costumbres de los aborígenes. Y la verdad, es que todo ello me ha resultado sumamente interesante.
Además, al final hay un capítulo especial que nos deja ver ya lo que se avecina en el siguiente libro con la hermana llamada Tiggy.
Una serie que para mi va de menos a más y que cada vez me tiene más enamorada por lo que me hace viajar y la forma de escribir de la autora.
En este caso, CeCe se pondrá en búsqueda de sus orígenes, lo que le llevará a investigar sobre Kitty, una de las mujeres perleras más importantes de Australia y con la que al parecer está emparentada. Para ello, recorreremos gran parte de Australia y conoceremos tanto detalles de su arte como la pintura y su pintor más famoso a múltiples historias y costumbres de los aborígenes. Y la verdad, es que todo ello me ha resultado sumamente interesante.
Además, al final hay un capítulo especial que nos deja ver ya lo que se avecina en el siguiente libro con la hermana llamada Tiggy.
Una serie que para mi va de menos a más y que cada vez me tiene más enamorada por lo que me hace viajar y la forma de escribir de la autora.
November 10, 2017
I had enjoyed the first three of this series by Lucinda Riley and had eagerly awaited the issue of this one. I was a bit disappointed as I felt she did not convey the relationship of the main character with her Australian roots as well as she had with the back stories three earlier sisters. I felt the main character was lacking in things to illuminate her personality, she came over as very weak. I felt also that the author was searching for ideas to bring the story together but she did not succeed in doing this very well and some of the links were very tenuous.
April 21, 2018
After the the first two books - I had formed an opinion of Cece and I couldn’t of been more wrong !
This was amazing , I love the way the author details the journey of each daughter and how they finally find themselves home.
I’d recommend this book and cannot wait to read the next one ( I read this slightly out of sync )
This was amazing , I love the way the author details the journey of each daughter and how they finally find themselves home.
I’d recommend this book and cannot wait to read the next one ( I read this slightly out of sync )
December 10, 2022
Cartea mea preferată din seria celor 7 surori!!! ❤️
April 15, 2022
The story about Celaeno (CeCe) D' Aplièse. This is the fourth book in the series of The Seven Sisters, what I didn't know so I read this book as a stand alone. It is a good read as an standalone but because I fell in love with it I decided to buy the whole collection, now I noticed I have had some spoilers of the 3rd book that is about Star.
After Pa Salt dies CeCe got a letter about her birth family and therefore she has to travel to Australia.
I absolutely loved it how the 2 stories were put together. And am really curious about the other 6 books.
After Pa Salt dies CeCe got a letter about her birth family and therefore she has to travel to Australia.
I absolutely loved it how the 2 stories were put together. And am really curious about the other 6 books.
March 16, 2022
4.5 ⭐
He disfrutado mucho de este libro, más la historia de Kitty que la de Cece.
Me ha encantado como Cece evoluciona, y aunque tiene problemas logra apañarse bien sola.
Deseando leer el de Tiggy, menudo final
He disfrutado mucho de este libro, más la historia de Kitty que la de Cece.
Me ha encantado como Cece evoluciona, y aunque tiene problemas logra apañarse bien sola.
Deseando leer el de Tiggy, menudo final
July 2, 2020
2,5 ⭐️
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