Book 3 of The Seven Sisters Series
Asterope (Star) D’Aplièse has always been the quiet sister, when she was six months old, her sister Celaeno (CeCe) was added to the family and the two grew up like twins – CeCe has always spoken for Star, and made decisions for her as well. Now, after Pa Salt’s death, Star goes on her search for her birth family. All she has is the name Flora McNicholl and a black stone cat, with the name Panther on it. Pa Salt also left her the name of a bookshop in London. One day, when she sees the bookshop from the bus, she impulsively walks in – and she runs out when she’s told off for answering her mobile phone. Unfortunately, she lost Pa Salt’s letter and when she goes back the next day, she starts chatting with the flamboyant store owner Orlando. When he finds out that she studied English literature, he hires her on the spot.
After a few weeks, he takes her to his ancestral home where she meets his cousin Margaret, his brother Mouse and the little boy Ryan who lives with Margaret. Star gets on like a house on fire with Ryan and Margaret. Mouse is a grumpy man, and Star is a little scared of him. But he’s the one who may have the answers about Flora McNicholl.
Flora grew up in the Lake DIstrict and had no intention of leaving, but her parents sold their estate so their younger daughter had a dowry. Flora is sent to London, to the socialite Alice Keppler, the mistress of the King. Flora meets Bertie, who seems to be a lovely man who gifted her a little statuette of a black cat (after he met her kitten Panther). After the King’s death, Flora returned to the Lake District and became very close to Beatrix Potter…
I really like Star, she’s an introvert and loves books (what’s not to love) – Lucinda Riley gives her hopes of being related to royalty and then takes it away just as quickly. I’m probably not the only one who has Renee Zellwegger featuring in this book as Beatrix Potter.
I really don’t like CeCe in this book, she’s overbearing and doesn’t like it when Star starts standing on her own two legs. Thankfully, Star continued on her journey to find herself and love…
Read for the Read Between the Lines Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 4: A Book About Sisters
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️