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Barbara Whitnell
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Charmed Circle: A heart-warming English family saga Kindle Edition

by Barbara Whitnell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
A page-turning family saga set during World War Two! Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Tracy Chevalier and Fiona Valpy.

Can Rachel find her place within the lively Rossiter family…?

England, 1933

Living with her strict grandmother, twelve-year-old Rachel Bond craves warmth and companionship. As she observes the Rossiter family — her charming and colourful neighbours — she longs to be part of their world.

When the Rossiters befriend her, Rachel is pulled into an exciting whirlwind of parties and family fun.

But as war looms and fractures arise within the family, Rachel soon discovers that they are not all that they seem.

And when the conflict moves closer to home and Rachel and the Rossiters each take their place in the war effort, their lives and relationships are changed forever…

CHARMED CIRCLE is an absorbing World War Two saga that moves between the English countryside, London and Cornwall.

‘Here is a strong story, well told, with an abundance of real feeling and a winning spice of humour. Above all, characters that live, and live on in the mind (and dare I say the heart) long after you finish reading. Warmly recommended.’ — Sarah Harrison

‘A compelling read.’ — Dee Remington, Family Circle

‘Likable, with green lawns and London wartime grit.’ — Kirkus Reviews
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  1. Print length
    481 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    July 17, 2022
  5. File size
    1.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The author of Loveday offers few surprises and fewer appealing characters in her tale of an English schoolgirl's neurotic friendship with selfish neighbors. Rachel Bond is packed off to boarding school as Britain slides toward WW II. While spending holidays with her doughty grandparents in a small town in the countryside, she falls in with the Rossiters, a privileged family who lead a noisy, colorful life next door. Lofty Diana snubs the newcomer, and her sister Alannah is a whiner, but Barney is solid and likable, while the vague charm of eldest son Gavin makes Rachel swoon. Over the years, everything the tight-knit clan does reinforces Rachel's sense of inferiority. The author semaphores so wildly that all is not right with this pack of narcissists that the sordid secrets she finally reveals fall flat, and she never satisfactorily answers the question of why Rachel would suffer for so long in the awful Rossiters' shadow. Readers who revel in stiff upper lips and romantic endings after much tribulation may enjoy this portrait of a very British circle, bounded though it is by cliches and stilted dialogue.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

As a little girl staying summers with her grandmother, Rachel Bond is captivated by the ebullient and charming Rossiter clan, a wealthy English family. The four Rossiter children soon include Rachel in many of their activities, and she immediately becomes hopelessly infatuated with the oldest son, Gavin. When he decides to enlist in the army and join the fighting in Spain, his parents blame Rachel and banish her from the family circle. The years pass, and as Rachel struggles to cope with the consequences of Gavin's father's improper affection, she meets some of the family again and resumes her relationship with them. She is drawn to Gavin once again, and they decide to marry. Mrs. Rossiter voices strong objections, but it is Rachel's discovery of Gavin's secret love that finally allows her to see the Rossiters as they really are. This is a worthwhile addition to popular fiction collections, especially those with patrons who enjoy stories of families with deep, dark secrets.
- Margaret Hanes, Sterling Heights P.L., Mich.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B6W9H97N
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 17, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 481 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1800557765
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

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Barbara Whitnell

Barbara Whitnell

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
25 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Susanna
    5.0 out of 5 stars CHARMED CIRCLE, by Barbara Whitnell
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I first read CHARMED CIRCLE, by Barbara Whitnell, in paperback, sent to me by my sister. It is so well done that I ordered it in hardback to add to my personal library. This book is set in WWII England. It follows the childhood and maturity of a girl, and the influencing role of a magnetic, colorful family next door to her residence with her grandmother, a family with whom she develops close ties, and eventually, she learns of their complex relationships. An incredible book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Janice E. Lambert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cozy reading!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The book was a good read.
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  • Jessica
    4.0 out of 5 stars Everything is not always as it seems...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2022
    I first read this book about 20 years ago. I love the overall story & it has certainly stayed with me!

    The story of shy Rachel, who longs to be more like extroverted Alannah Rossiter & her siblings, is full of moments that are funny, sad, and heart breaking. Set in England
    in WWII, there is the uncertainty of the war to contend with as Rachel matures. Overall, this is a great story!

    I would definitely put this under the category of drama-- it made me kind of laugh to hear it described as "heart warming", & if you've read it you'll understand why.
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  • Sally Kalmbach
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great read!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Patricia Kay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Like a cozy cup of tea!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2000
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book of Ms. Whitnell's that I've read, but it won't be the last. I took it with me on vacation and absolutely devoured it. I am rarely surprised at endings, but Ms. Whitnell managed to do just that, even as she was spinning a wonderful tale. I highly recommend it.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Ruth A. Caldwell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story, and yes the ending is a shocker, so if...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2001
    you're faint of heart, perhaps this wouldn't be for you. However, I believed R.Pilcher's recommendation was good enough for me, especially (considering) her sense of reality in each of her novels. Real life isn't always rosey, and bizarre occurrences happen to the best families. I'm not usually stumped, but Ms. Whitnell had me rapidly tearing through this book in order to find out... "who-done-it"... ! If you like stories about young people growing up in England and accept there are some harsh realities to contend with, you'll enjoy this interesting story!
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • agapanthe19
    3.0 out of 5 stars un bon livre
    Reviewed in France on November 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    l'histoire est bien écrite - un peu tarabiscotée - le suspense est maintenu jusqu'au bout... et le dénouement assez inattendu
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  • CMP
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I've just read it for the second time and I think I enjoyed it more. I do tend to read quickly, sometimes skim read so often enjoy a book the second time round when I pick up details and nuances I missed the first time. I loved reading about the Rossiter family who seemed to have it all but who turned out to be flawed:the gorgeous Gavin, elegant but supercillious Diana and shallow Alannah and poor Barney, a perfect boy next door: about Rachel filled with shyness and self doubt who blossomed and showed courage in difficult social times. This is a fascinating story all set against a war time Britain. My copy is a paperback titled a 'Rosamunde Pilcher's' Book shelf selection'. She gives it an introduction and calls it 'a sort of Cinderella story' and says 'If you like to remember and be taken back in time, then this is the book for you' A good enough recommendation!
    I shall look for some more Barbara Whitnell books
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