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The Secret Life of Violet Grant Hardcover – May 27, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Williams, author of the best-selling A Hundred Summers (2013), conjures up another substantive beach read steeped in history and familial intrigue. Separated by 50 years but joined together in spirit and ambition, Vivian Schuyler and Violet Schuyler Grant share equal parts of the narrative flow as the story leapfrogs back and forth between 1964 New York and 1914 Berlin. When Vivian accepts delivery of a musty parcel from the past, she is compelled to unlock the secrets that have shrouded the memory of her Great Aunt Violet. Though the blue-blooded Schuyler family has done its best to bury and ignore Violet’s disgraceful past—she was, after all, determined to pursue a career as a scientist!—the deeper Vivian digs, the more invested she becomes in Violet’s story. Rumor has it that Violet murdered her husband and mentor, Dr. Walter Grant, before mysteriously disappearing with her lover on the eve of WWI. As Vivian closes in on the past, she has a heart-wrenching problem of her own to resolve in the present. Readers will love wallowing in the twists and turns of this irresistibly luxurious tale. --Margaret Flanagan
Review
Praise for THE SECRET LIFE OF VIOLET GRANT
“A riveting tale of murder and adultery.” —US Weekly
“Another absorbing page-turner filled with romance and secrets…. Violet’s narrative will captivate readers with its intrigue and the protagonist’s struggles…” —Library Journal
“Williams conjures up another substantive beach read steeped in history and familial intrigue.... Readers will love wallowing in the twists and turns of this irresistibly luxurious tale.” —Booklist
“A riveting tale of murder and adultery.” —US Weekly
“Another absorbing page-turner filled with romance and secrets…. Violet’s narrative will captivate readers with its intrigue and the protagonist’s struggles…” —Library Journal
“Williams conjures up another substantive beach read steeped in history and familial intrigue.... Readers will love wallowing in the twists and turns of this irresistibly luxurious tale.” —Booklist
Praise for A HUNDRED SUMMERS:
“[A] fast-paced love story…the scorching sun illuminates a friend’s betrayal and reignites a romance.”— O, The Oprah Magazine
“Perfect for fans of the Gossip Girl series.” — People
“Summer of 1938: A scandalous love triangle and a famous hurricane converge in a New England beach community. Add in a betrayal between friends, a marriage for money, and a Yankee pitcher, and it’s a perfect storm.”—Good Housekeeping
“A candidate for this year’s big beach read.”—Kirkus
“Novels as masterfully done as A Hundred Summers come along only about that often. Beatriz Williams delivers an intricately woven tale of friendship, betrayal, old families, and closely guarded secrets. It is what every beach book should aspire to be – smart and engrossing.”—Elin Hilderbrand, author of Beautiful Day and the bestselling Summerland
"Smart, delicious writing... Williams adds a signature touch of historic drama."—Library Journal
"Williams' sweeping saga of betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption trenchantly examines the often duplicitous nature of female friendships and family friendships."—Booklist
A Hundred Summers sparkles like the New England summer sun. A brilliantly told tale of love lost and found, of friendship, and of family ties that strangle… Definitely a book for my keeper shelf."—Karen White, New York Times-bestselling author of Sea Change
More About the Author
A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA from Columbia, Beatriz spent several years in New York and London hiding her early attempts at fiction, first on company laptops as a corporate and communications strategy consultant, and then as an at-home producer of small persons. She now lives with her husband and four children near the Connecticut shore, where she divides her time between writing and laundry.
Visit her online at www.beatrizwilliams.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beatrizwilliamsauthor, and on Twitter at @bcwilliamsbooks.
Visit her online at www.beatrizwilliams.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beatrizwilliamsauthor, and on Twitter at @bcwilliamsbooks.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By
I Do the Speed Limit
TOP 500 REVIEWER on May 8, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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And, oh!, what a brilliant story teller is Ms. Beatriz!
I read novels; I review novels: And It takes a lot of my time. Why do I do it? Because, once in a great while, I run across a book like this, and it makes all my time and effort worth while.
The two stories--one playing against the other, chapter after chapter--an aunt and a niece; one story before the First World War, the other story much later on in New York City--with their unexpected twists and turns: So sweet, so complicated, so honest and gullible and right.
The main character, a journalist in pursuit of a story that involves her youngest aunt--and a murder--and a disappearance; a story which could make her career, pitted against a family that wants to keep the aunt's story mum; her perseverance, her chutzpah, and a man--there is always a man.....The main character has so much pizzazz, so many one-liners up her sleeve, so witty, such a beautiful face, hair, body; so much going for her, yet so alone and lonely.
From the first page to the last page: It is a complete, wonderful, perfectly wrapped, elaborate package, tied with a beautiful, flamboyant bow,and presented to the reader. Best book I've read in quite a while.
I read novels; I review novels: And It takes a lot of my time. Why do I do it? Because, once in a great while, I run across a book like this, and it makes all my time and effort worth while.
The two stories--one playing against the other, chapter after chapter--an aunt and a niece; one story before the First World War, the other story much later on in New York City--with their unexpected twists and turns: So sweet, so complicated, so honest and gullible and right.
The main character, a journalist in pursuit of a story that involves her youngest aunt--and a murder--and a disappearance; a story which could make her career, pitted against a family that wants to keep the aunt's story mum; her perseverance, her chutzpah, and a man--there is always a man.....The main character has so much pizzazz, so many one-liners up her sleeve, so witty, such a beautiful face, hair, body; so much going for her, yet so alone and lonely.
From the first page to the last page: It is a complete, wonderful, perfectly wrapped, elaborate package, tied with a beautiful, flamboyant bow,and presented to the reader. Best book I've read in quite a while.
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23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By
Dave Astle
VINE VOICE on April 29, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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First of all, I would not categorize this novel as a romance novel. When I hear the term "romance novel" I run screaming. This isn't one of those insipid pieces of blech that I usually assume a romance novel will be. This book is so much more than that.
Vivian Schuyler was born wealthy but is living in a crap apartment, trying to make it on her own in the 1960's. A trip to the post office brings a mysterious suitcase and a handsome doctor. The suitcase, she learns, belonged to her great-aunt Violet, a woman even more daring and independent than Vivian, who left her family behind to study physics in England in 1911. The doctor ends up being more mysterious than she bargained for as well.
The book switches between time periods and between the two protagonists, Vivian and Violet, and it does so in a perfectly smooth and coherent way. There are many similarities between the two women and neither of them know if they can trust the man each of them is in love with.
There is nothing predictable about The Secret Life of Violet Grant and it held my interest the entire time. I highly recommend it.
Vivian Schuyler was born wealthy but is living in a crap apartment, trying to make it on her own in the 1960's. A trip to the post office brings a mysterious suitcase and a handsome doctor. The suitcase, she learns, belonged to her great-aunt Violet, a woman even more daring and independent than Vivian, who left her family behind to study physics in England in 1911. The doctor ends up being more mysterious than she bargained for as well.
The book switches between time periods and between the two protagonists, Vivian and Violet, and it does so in a perfectly smooth and coherent way. There are many similarities between the two women and neither of them know if they can trust the man each of them is in love with.
There is nothing predictable about The Secret Life of Violet Grant and it held my interest the entire time. I highly recommend it.
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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By
Penmouse
TOP 500 REVIEWER on May 10, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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The Secret Life of Violet Grant by author Beatriz Williams is a delightful and wittily written book. I've read both A Hundred Summers and The Secret Life of Violet Grant, and of the two, her book about Violet Grant is top-notch.
In Williams' newest book the main character, Vivian Schuyler, discovers she has an aunt, who was a scientist during the 1900s, and who may have been a murderess and an adulterer. All this information was dumped into Violet's lap, so-to-speak, and along the way we get to meet her sweet, handsome Dr. Paul who helped carry a mysterious package from her Aunt Violet which started Vivian's search for her Aunt Violet.
This is a dishy and deliciously written story, and I'd love to include a few pithy lines; but I can not as this review is from an uncorrected proof available for limited distribution.
Suffice it to say this is a delicious read and perfect for summer reading.
Recommend.
In Williams' newest book the main character, Vivian Schuyler, discovers she has an aunt, who was a scientist during the 1900s, and who may have been a murderess and an adulterer. All this information was dumped into Violet's lap, so-to-speak, and along the way we get to meet her sweet, handsome Dr. Paul who helped carry a mysterious package from her Aunt Violet which started Vivian's search for her Aunt Violet.
This is a dishy and deliciously written story, and I'd love to include a few pithy lines; but I can not as this review is from an uncorrected proof available for limited distribution.
Suffice it to say this is a delicious read and perfect for summer reading.
Recommend.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By
Tina Says
VINE VOICE on April 8, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Beatriz Williams has managed to write a another interesting historical fiction novel with characters I can't quite get out of my mind.
Vivian is living in New York City in 1964 when a mysterious suitcase comes into her possession. The suitcase once belonged to Vivian's great aunt Violet, and perhaps holds the key to her disappearance. As the story alternates narrators, Vivian's great aunt Violet's story is revealed, although for decades her family has managed to keep it hush hush.
Secrets that have long been locked away are revealed as Vivian tries to locate her great aunt Violet. Although Vivian has hopes of writing a story about her great aunt, she is also curious about her mysterious disappearance and accusation that Violet murdered her husband.
As we read Violet's narration, we see that Violet's marriage was anything but happy, and her scientific work and the people she spent time with played a part in her disappearance.
Williams is able to recreate the era Violet lives in and I could imagine Europe in the early 1900s as I read. The twists in this story kept me guessing, and I was caught up in both Violet and Vivian's stories. Williams work is quickly making her one of my must-read authors, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
Vivian is living in New York City in 1964 when a mysterious suitcase comes into her possession. The suitcase once belonged to Vivian's great aunt Violet, and perhaps holds the key to her disappearance. As the story alternates narrators, Vivian's great aunt Violet's story is revealed, although for decades her family has managed to keep it hush hush.
Secrets that have long been locked away are revealed as Vivian tries to locate her great aunt Violet. Although Vivian has hopes of writing a story about her great aunt, she is also curious about her mysterious disappearance and accusation that Violet murdered her husband.
As we read Violet's narration, we see that Violet's marriage was anything but happy, and her scientific work and the people she spent time with played a part in her disappearance.
Williams is able to recreate the era Violet lives in and I could imagine Europe in the early 1900s as I read. The twists in this story kept me guessing, and I was caught up in both Violet and Vivian's stories. Williams work is quickly making her one of my must-read authors, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
Thank you for your feedback.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By
Utah Mom
VINE VOICE on May 13, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Vivian Schuyler got two surprises that afternoon at the post office. First, an old suitcase had been sent to her by mistake. After some digging around, she discovers the valise actually belonged to an aunt Violet Schuyler Grant who had left her affluent New York family to pursue her study of science in England, but later murdered her husband and disappeared with her lover. The Schuylers have neither heard from her or talked about her since.
Vivian's second surprise was the handsome Doctor Paul who volunteered to carry the large package home from the post office. Charming and helpful, Vivian can't get the doctor or her newly discovered aunt off her mind.
Vivian will discover the truth regarding what happened between her aunt Violet and her professor husband on the eve of the first World War, while learning just how much heartache and love her own heart can handle.
The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams is a definite page turner. It's another split narrative (so many of those lately) as the reader follows both Vivian's search for the truth and Violet's life with Professor Grant in alternating chapters. That formula works well in William's novel. I enjoyed both the intrigue of Violet's story and Vivian's melodramatic love life as well as the satisfying and bridging conclusion.
Vivian's spunky character is unforgettable. Her absolute open candor and her 1964 short skirts are daring and delightful. While she's open and frank, Vivian is more vulnerable than she lets on and she works her way right into the reader's heart. She's definitely my favorite part of the novel.
There are some disturbing sex scenes and vulgar language.
Vivian's second surprise was the handsome Doctor Paul who volunteered to carry the large package home from the post office. Charming and helpful, Vivian can't get the doctor or her newly discovered aunt off her mind.
Vivian will discover the truth regarding what happened between her aunt Violet and her professor husband on the eve of the first World War, while learning just how much heartache and love her own heart can handle.
The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams is a definite page turner. It's another split narrative (so many of those lately) as the reader follows both Vivian's search for the truth and Violet's life with Professor Grant in alternating chapters. That formula works well in William's novel. I enjoyed both the intrigue of Violet's story and Vivian's melodramatic love life as well as the satisfying and bridging conclusion.
Vivian's spunky character is unforgettable. Her absolute open candor and her 1964 short skirts are daring and delightful. While she's open and frank, Vivian is more vulnerable than she lets on and she works her way right into the reader's heart. She's definitely my favorite part of the novel.
There are some disturbing sex scenes and vulgar language.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
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