My dearest daughter
This will be the last letter I write to you. I hope she will let you read this one. I hope she will let you ask questions and hear the story you need to hear. The story of you. And if she doesn’t I hope that one day you will get curious, wonder where you came from and come and find me.
Called to a lawyers office to be informed of an inheritance, Julia Simmonds, discovers she’s the secret love-child of the late, great artist Bruce Baldwin. With temperamental seventies supermodel Philadelphia Simmonds as a mother, Julia is used to drama, but is completely unprepared for the way her life is about to irrevocably change.
Bruce not only left Julia his house, but as she discovers, her father wrote to her. One letter every year of her life, urging Julia to learn from his mistakes.
It is finally time for Julia to dig deep into her mysterious past and take control of her future, but as more secrets and lies are uncovered, she must find the courage to follow her dreams…
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My Review
I had seen lots of bits and pieces on social media regarding this book so I was delighted when The Many Colours of Us popped through my letterbox. The blurb had me intrigued and I couldn't wait to get started. So what did I think...
Right from the start you empathise with Julia as her family life isn't perfect. Then when she makes the discovery of who her father is it makes everything all the more complicated. After finding out the truth it sends her on a journey of finding out about her parents hidden past.
I found Rachel Burton's writing to be wonderfully descriptive as I was so very easily transported into the story and also into Julia's life.
Julia is strong and determined it was so easy to get attached to her character as she comes to terms with the past especially as there is nothing she can do to change things. Julia has a lot of patience when it comes to her mother and I have to say at times she was much more understanding than I probably would have been. I guess that's why I liked her character so much she tried to focus on the positives which is an extremely difficult thing to do I know I often struggle with this.
Edwin is pretty perfect, the chemistry that both Julia and Edwin share is beautiful but the past resurfacing doesn't make things easy. Will there be a happy ending well you really will have to read and find out for yourselves.
The characters within this book are all well developed and play their parts perfectly from Julia's mum Philadelphia right through to Marco the Italian restaurant owner.
The story had a hopeful feeling to it even when Julia was having a hard time processing everything. Also the theme of forgiveness and the ability to let go of the past even though it can be painful to do so.
One of the best things about this book was the letters that Bruce wrote and left for Julia. They were poignant and heartfelt, they helped me become even more immersed in the story than I already was. I do have to mention that there is a reference to Maltby, Rotherham in South Yorkshire I loved this as I live very near there. I actually finished this book over a 24 hour period whenever I had a spare moment I was reading this book. The story moved smoothly and held my attention completely with a moving plot and engaging characters.
Full of secrets from the past but also hope & love!
I highly recommend this beautiful story, a huge five stars from me!
Thank you to HQDigitalUK for my copy, this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I loved this too! Fab review Rae xx
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