Book Review - The Gates of Rutherford

The Gates of Rutherford: A Novel of Rutherford Park

By: Elizabeth Cooke
Publisher: Berkley Trade Paperback
Publication Date: September 2015
ISBN: 978-0-425-27719-5
Reviewed by: Mary Lignor
Review Date: July 22, 2015

The Gates of Rutherford is book three in the 'Rutherford Park' series by Elizabeth Cooke, and like the others in this collection, this book delivers a very satisfying read.

Book one in the series, Rutherford Park, tells of the estate of the Cavendish Family in Yorkshire, England. It’s really a dreamy setting if you are only looking from a distance, with all the money and manners of the family. However, if you look a little harder, you will find that not everyone is happy. The family consists of William, the head of the family, his wife Octavia, who is making the best of her loveless marriage and learns to live with it as William has to have her money in order to keep the place the way he wants it. They have a son, Harry, who wants to be a pilot and doesn’t want to run the house. Daughter Louisa is the spoiled daughter looking for a husband and youngest daughter, Charlotte, has a secret that would definitely shock the family. In the second book, The Wild Dark Flowers, Harry joins the Royal Flying Corps and the family must deal with the ravages of war.

On to book three, The Gates of Rutherford. This book begins with Charlotte’s wedding day. The year is 1917 and Charlotte is a very young nineteen years old. The war is still violently raging and her brother, Harry, is still in the Royal Flying Corps. Her parent’s marriage is in danger of ending and her mother has fallen in love with an American living in London.

Charlotte’s groom is Preston, a blind soldier who she nursed back to health. Her parents are very happy about the marriage as Preston comes from a good family and might be able to get rid of some of Charlotte’s wildness. The two do marry but Charlotte begins to see that she is not really happy and doesn’t know quite why at the start. When she does understand her feelings, she cannot tell her family, or anyone for that matter. The writer gives readers much to think about as this series draws to a close and readers will begin to know just what is going on with Charlotte. The Gates of Rutherford, is a great summer book to take to the beach.

Quill says: Just think of Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs and enjoy.

Book Review - The Wild Dark Flowers

The Wild Dark Flowers: A Novel of Rutherford Park 

By: Elizabeth Cooke
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Publishing Date: July 2014
ISBN: 978-0-425-26259-7
Reviewed by: Mary Lignor
Review Date: May 2014

The Wild Dark Flowers is book two in the "Rutherford Park" series and tells the story of the family and their servants living at Rutherford Park.

Rutherford Park is a beautiful estate owned by the Cavendish family. It is a dream house and money actually seeps out of the walls and gardens. The family has been around for decades and are certainly among the elite of folks who have a winter home in London and a summer home in the countryside. Starting with the first book about Rutherford Park, the reader will realize that all is not well and almost everyone at the estate, upstairs and down, are harboring secrets.

In this second story of the Cavendish family, World War I is about ready to explode and their only son, Harry, has joined up with the Army. William Cavendish, owner of the Park and his wife Octavia have been living a lie for some time, staying married for the children’s sake. Their son, Harry, is now in the Army and World War I is about to change the lives of the family and many other families. The family also consists of two younger women, Louisa and Charlotte, and a tiny baby girl who is Harry’s child by a liaison with one of the maids. This is a very aristocratic dynasty that is ready to fall apart. This particular story ends with many unanswered questions that I’m hoping will become volume three as the problems are far from settled.
The Wild Dark Flowers follows numerous haunting love stories and conflicts. While interesting, these intertwined plot lines were, at times, difficult to understand. Still, the book was well researched and gives readers an intimate look at the details of living on a beautiful country estate. The author does a good job of showing what it was like to endure all the trials and tribulations of the ruling family as well as the men and women who served them.

Quill says: While not quite as gripping as the first book in the series, I look forward to reading more about the Cavendish family and those who live at Rutherford Park.