I only remember this book cover, but nothing else. And I will not read this book again, it doesn't even seem interesting.

Another excellent installment in the gothic romance world of Philippa Carr (aka Victoria Holt). Yet another well done twist (had my suspicions throughout the book, but was not sure till the end). Historically accurate and interesting read.

1,5⭐
Poza lekko złą techniczną stroną tej książki była po prostu momentami nudna. Relacje między bohaterami nie były porywające. Taka nijaka. Już minimalnie lepsza była poprzednia książka z tej serii.

One of my favorite books from high school, this is the story of childhood sweethearts from Cornwall, a suitably dramatic setting for this gothic tale! This book has everything: deaths, ghosts, babies switched at birth, ravishments in old castles . . . and yet it's all very demurely done. I liked that quite a bit, it was very reminiscent of something like Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre. Affairs and other scandalous matters were spoken of with veiled comments and euphemisms that were in keeping with the time period. The mysteries (there are a couple) are well done, as are the romances (there are a couple of those, too).

Fifteenth in the Daughters of England historical fiction series in the gothic romance vein. The focus in this one is on a Victorian-era daughter, Rebecca Mandeville and her family.

My Take
A typical gothic romance with cozy overtones that thwart Carr's attempts to create tension and drama. I'm not sure if my frustration with this is due to how long ago this story was first released and the silly tropes used in this were typical of the writing styles when this was written or if this was an aberration. I know I liked Victoria Holt, one of Carr's pseudonym's, when I was a kid. That said, the protagonist, Rebecca, annoyed the hell out of me. She's such a snot. Granted, she has reason for her unhappiness, but even as she grows, she doesn't acknowledge how unfair she's been, although she's quite keen to disparage others for doing exactly what she's doing.

She is so incredibly clueless… And I thought this was the Victorian era when single women couldn't go anywhere unattended? Rebecca goes EVERYwhere unattended. Including into some very dubious establishments. What is Rebecca, or should I say, what is Carr thinking?

I'm confused. If Angelet and her husband went to Australia to make it big and come back to England to live in comfort, how has she managed her current comfort if he died there? Then there's Benedict's marriage to Celeste. Supposedly he needs a wife who can hostess dinners, etc. for this upcoming and brilliant politician. And she can barely speak English. How does this make her an asset?

That penultimate scene between Pedrek and her…MAJOR eye roll there. I mean, duhhhh, all, and I mean ALL, the evidence is right in front of her and she's too stupid to make the connections??? Give. Me. A. Break. I thought she was supposed to be intelligent. The scene with Jacque-Philip at Tor Hill? Puh-lease. How naive can she be? Personally, I'd've leaped to the conclusion that the attacker was him way before anyone else!

Tragedy, drama, whining, the stupid trope, it's all here.

The ending was happy enough, and much too easy.

The Story
It’s so romantic that Angelet and Benedict are free to marry each other, having been childhood sweethearts separated by events. They’re so incredibly happy with only one fly in the ointment: Rebecca hates her new stepfather for taking the place of the father she never knew.

When Angelet becomes pregnant, Rebecca looks forward to her new brother or sister arriving. What no one anticipates is how hard the birth is. And Benedict is like Sir Ronald, unforgiving. It’s a pair they are, two people hating in a family with a newborn.

A few years later, disaster strikes at Christmas, and Lucie loses her mother tragically. Luckily, Rebecca and her grandparents are kindly people and take Lucie in. Lucky in so many ways…

The Characters
Rebecca is Angelet's beloved daughter. Angelet Mandeville lost her husband during a rescue attempt in Australia. Now she lives in London with her daughter and visits her grandparents often at Cador, their house in Cornwall. Miss Brown is Rebecca's governess. Mr. and Mrs. Emery are the handyman and housekeeper/cook in the London house; they'll be elevated to butler and housekeeper when they move to Manorleigh The maids, Jane and Ann, will move as well. Mrs. Grant is the cook hired for Manorleigh. Alfred is a footman in the London house. The baby is Belinda Mary, and Leah will become her nurse. Jim Fedder is a groom in the Manorleigh stables. Miss Stringer is Belinda and Lucie's governess.

Miss Martha is the daughter who survived her mother's, Lady Flamstead's death. Sir Ronald never forgave her.

Cador in Cornwall
Rolf is Becca's grandfather; Annora is her grandmother. Jack is Angelet's brother; he and his wife, Marian, will inherit Cador when their parents die. They have two children, twins: Jacco and Anne-Mary. Mrs. Garnett is the cook at Cador. Jim Isaacs and Stubbs are two of the grooms. Dr. Wilmington is the family doctor. Madge is a new kitchen maid with a loose tongue.

Pedrek Cartwright is Rebecca's best friend — they were born in the same house out in Australia. His grandparents, Josiah Pencarron and his wife, own a mine near Rebecca's grandparents' home in Cornwall. Justin and Morwenna Cartwright are Pedrek's parents who live in London.

Benedict Lansdon is the grandson of "Uncle" Peter, a great friend of Rebecca's family. Amaryllis is Peter's wife. Peterkin is their son, and he works with his wife, Frances, at the Mission his father established. Helena is Peter and Amaryliss' daughter and is married to a politician, Martin Hume. I'm not sure where Grace Hume fits in, other than she's worked closely with Benedict at some point besides working at the Mission. The wealthy Lizzie Morley was Benedict's first wife. Celeste Bourdon will become his third. Yvette is her lady's maid.

Oliver Gerson is a charming business colleague of Benedict's whom he inherited when Uncle Peter's businesses came to him. Tom Marner is an Australian mine owner and colleague who visits Benedict at Manorleigh.

In Cornwall
Jenny Stubbs is a young woman who lost a child she cared for and so lost a bit of her mind as well. She becomes pregnant with Lucie. She works for the kindly Mrs. Bullet and, I guess, Mrs. Granger. Mrs. Polhenny is an excellent midwife and vituperative religious nut job. Leah is her much-abused daughter who does beautiful embroidery.

The Bourdons are French émigrés who will buy High Tor. Celeste is the daughter; the licentious Jean Pascal is the son. The Stennings are the latest tenants of High Tor.

Madame Perrotte is teaching Rebecca to curtsy for her presentation. Jack Kellaway worked for Josiah and was injured in a mining accident. A tragedy left his wife, Mary, and daughter, Mary, alone.

The Cover
The cover is gothic enough with its woods and the tightly buttoned-up Rebecca sitting on the stone bench with her letter and the mysterious gentleman in the background. With all that orange on the ground, I’m tempted to say it’s autumn, but the trees still have their leaves.

The title is where it ends up, with The Changeling. A rather obvious one.

Part of a series of mother to daughter generations stories telling the history of England from Henry VIII to WW II. Fabulous to read them all in order. Each one is a gem; each is surprising and well written.

This reflects a bit of the eerie feeling that Victoria Holt is famous for; Phillipa Carr is another pen name.

Periodically, my weakness for authors that began in late teenage years erupts, and I have to read some of those novels! Just finished one from the paperback swap rack at the Carrollton library, "The Changeling", by Philippa Carr -- aka Victoria Holt. All right, I'll say the truth, I'd figured out the mysteriously veiled relationships well in advance! Shan't say anything more...

Love this book

Excellent book. The storyline has many twists and turns. I would highly recommend the author,Philippa Carr to all my friends.

There are so many complex characters & intricate plots that this novel kept me entranced throughout.  I am an avid reader & often can figure out the plot early in the book but this novel happily surprised me at the end.

Beautifully written. Such interesting characters. A pleasure to read. I plan to buy all of the authors books. I already have several. I'd give it a ten star rating if I could.

Replacing hard copy of series as downsizing.  Great author

Words can not describe my feelings for this series of books. Philippa Carr was an excellent writer, there is never a dull moment.

My love for history, suspense and romance turned me towards her books, and I do not regret it.

The serie starts with Tudor period, and takes us on a joyride through English history, French revolution and everyday life. Told by generations of daughters, starting with Catherine in 1547.

Queen Elizabeth, Charles II, restoration, Jacobites, Anne Stuart, French revolution, it's all here. And of course, there are murders, villains and a who-done-it.