Review: The Cavendon Luck

Summary: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a captivating epic saga of courage and honor, following the aristocratic Inghams and the loyal Swann family who have served them for centuries.

It is 1938 in England, and Miles and Cecily Ingham have lead the family in bringing the Cavendon estate back from the brink of disaster. But now, with the arrival of World War II, Cavendon Hall will face its biggest challenge yet. It is a challenge that will push the Inghams and Swanns to protect each other and the villagers, and reveal their true capacity for survival and rebirth.

Told with Bradford’s deft, evocative prose and featuring a beloved cast of characters, The Cavendon Luck is a story of intrigue, romance, sorrow, and joy that readers won’t soon forget. -- St. Martin's Press

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, then it might probably surprise you that I enjoy the Cavendon Women series by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I recently finished the third novel, THE CAVENDON LUCK; and once again, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it -- although at this point, you'd think I get the drift! You can read my reviews of CAVENDON HALL and THE CAVENDON WOMEN here and here.

THE CAVENDON LUCK takes place in 1938 (nine years after the end of the last novel) when Europe is on the verge of World War II. Miles and Cecily Ingram have "saved" the Cavendon estate from financial ruin; and everyone in the family seems to be doing well. Unfortunately, there is the undercurrent of war that dampens spirits. It's only a matter of time until war breaks out, and the wise Ingrams and Swanns have started preparing for it.

When the war finally does it, each member of the Cavendon family (and their loyal Swanns!) does their part to support their homeland whether that be in battle, at home supporting the troops, providing uniforms, or even helping Jews escape Nazi Germany.

THE CAVENDON LUCK will definitely be a treat to fans of this series. It's a long book (about 500 pages), but it's a very quick read. I read the book over Memorial Day weekend in less than 24 hours. I think that's a testament to the author. She's created a wonderful cast of characters that I've come to know and care about, and she keeps their relationships interesting. In this novel in particular, she includes a great deal of historical content by delving into Europe both before and during World War II... and it's apparent that she did her research!

You might wonder if THE CAVENDON LUCK works as a stand-alone novel. I think it does work; however, I'd recommend reading the first two book prior to this one. There is enough detail about the various characters and their pasts, but I don't know if readers would truly appreciate the families' history without getting all of the details!

As was the case with the first two books, THE CAVENDON LUCK is a fast-paced read with lots of romance and intrigue. I am not a huge fan of romance, but I must say that Barbara Taylor Bradford does a nice job of it in this book. It's sweet but not sappy, and I don't think it's over-the-top at all. I will admit that it's not my favorite part of these books, but it really is well done.

What makes THE CAVENDON LUCK so special are the characters. They are just wonderful and I do think readers end up really caring about these people. One of the running themes through the novel (and all three novels) is the relationship between the Swanns and the Ingrams. The Swanns have served the Ingrams for centuries, and the two families have a unique reciprocity of trust and loyalty. Of course through the years, there have been some romances between the them; and those relationships are especially sweet!

I enjoyed THE CAVENDON LUCK and really all three books in this series. Recommended to fans of Downton Abby and readers who appreciate historical romance.

Thanks to Get Red PR for providing a review copy of this novel.