Susan's Review of Andrew Morton's Elizabeth and Margaret-the Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters

This biography from a New York Times bestselling author follows Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret as they navigate life in the royal spotlight. They were the closest of sisters and the best of friends.

But when, in a quixotic twist of fate, their uncle Edward Vlll abdicated the throne, the dynamic between Elizabeth and Margaret was dramatically altered. Forever more Margaret would have to curtsey to the sister she called 'Lillibet.' And bow to her wishes. Margaret's struggle to find a place and position inside the royal system—and her fraught relationship with its expectations—was often a source of tension.. This book explores their relationship over the years.

Andrew Morton’s Elizabeth and Margaret is a well-researched, charming, insightful read. I enjoyed how Andrew Morton focused on the close relationship between the two sisters rather than historical events. I have not read a biography in ages and Morton’s choice to focus on the sister’s relationship captured my interest and kept me reading.

Elizabeth and Margaret had an idyllic childhood; they dressed alike, shared the same nanny and slept the same bedroom. King Edward VIII’s abdication forever altered their relationship. Morton shared Margaret’s feelings throughout the book as she realized that the limelight no longer shined on her; it shifted to her quiet, horse loving sister.

Morton carefully presents information about Margaret’s complicated love affair with Captain Peter Townsend. I enjoyed that he presented facts and allowed the reader to determine what lead Margaret to break off her relationship with Townsend. At first, I wondered if Margaret was attracted to Townsend because he was a connection to her father whom she adored. Morton makes it clear that Elizabeth made every effort to make her sister happy and it was Margaret’s choice to step way.

Andrew Morton brings history to life in the book. The book encompasses WWII, Elizabeth’s marriage, Margaret’s marriage and her unorthodox lifestyle. I loved the author’s voice—his descriptive writing style showed that the sisters-although very different-deeply cared for each other. The Margaret-Peter Townsend chapters were very thorough and well researched. Loved learning bits and pieces of the sister’s lives—the details make this book stand out!

If you are a fan of the Crown series and enjoy books about the royals—this is the perfect book for you!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by Grand Central Publishing

Susan's Review of Holly Pointe and Candy Canes by Cindy Kirk

Quirky Faith Pierson loves her life in rural Vermont. Especially in December when she throws herself into the local holiday festivities.

Widower Graham Westfall doesn’t have time for Christmas. After missing the mark on his last ad campaign by a New York mile, his job now hangs in the balance. He has one month to come up with a new campaign or he’s out. He arrives in Holly Pointe planning to work the month away while his twin daughters spend time with their grandmother.

When he discovers there’s no room at Gramma Ginny’s Inn, his only choice of lodging is the one place in Holly Pointe he doesn’t want to be…the Candy Cane Christmas House.

Holiday Party Central accurately describes the home where Faith and her Grandmother live. Under this roof there are cookies to bake, lessons to learn and love to embrace. If a romance between an artist and an ad executive can’t bloom at this time of year…then when?

Faith Pierson was my favorite character in Cindy Kirk’s first Holly Pointe holiday story. A kind, generous person, Faith personified the true spirt and meaning of Christmas. She loves all of the holiday events in her town and immerses herself in the town’s holiday activities.

Graham Westfall and his twin daughters travel to Holly Pointe to spend time with his late wife’s family. They arrive to find a houseful of people and end up renting an apartment in Faith’s family home. Graham is all business. His plan of rewriting an ad campaign falls apart when he realizes that he will have to spend Family time with his daughters.

I love the characters in this series. Faith stepped up to care for her grandmother, Mary, when she became ill. Faith stayed in Holly Pointe and opened a store which features and handmade inspirational sayings painted on boards. The store, her employees and the inspirational messages are important to Faith. Graham’s mother-in-law Ginny is a fabulous character-her conversations with Graham are fabulous-she encourages him to talk about his wife, to consider dating and to go after what he really wants.

Two characters that surprised me were Dustin and Krista. Faith and her store were featured on their tv show last season. The episode got high ratings and the couple have made Faith an offer to feature her work in their new store. The couple is also connected to Graham as he is being offered a second chance to create an ad campaign for the power couple. I liked that Cindy Kirk depicted Dustin as an aggressive business man-I was not thrilled with his actions and his underhanded way of getting what he wanted. The conflict between these characters adds a lot of spice to the story. Faith and Graham’s relationship is tested and Faith’s determination to take her time making her decision makes Dustin realize that he cannot push Faith into a commitment.

I love that the characters are not perfect; they are relatable. Trust, faith and love are the cornerstones of this holiday novel. I love the small town setting and the sense of community-people coming together to share traditions in this series. Loved that Cindy Kirk presented “an opportunity of a lifetime” to Faith and Graham and how it drove the storyline. Grab a cup of tea and your favorite blanket or corgi—and settle in for a fabulous afternoon read. This book is a holiday treasure.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the author

Check out my review of Book One of this series-Holly Pointe and Mistletoe by Cindy Kirk