The cost of making partner in a large Manhattan law firm has never been too high for Clementine Evans and her broken engagement is proof of it. At her Grandmother Addie's 99th birthday, all Clemmie's hard work seems inconsequential. She's alone, never having known a love like her Grandma Addie and Grandpa Fredrick's. Clemmie has to wonder if she's been working for all the wrong things. Every family has its secrets and as Clemmie digs into her incredible grandmother's history, she unearths an unknown relative Bea Gillecote who was as close as a sister to Addie. But if Addie loved Bea so much, why has Clemmie never heard of her and why will no one tell her who Bea was?

THE ASHFORD AFFAIR by Lauren Willig spans generations and continents as it follows the lives of three determined women as they try to find their happiness in a world dominated by strict social rules. The early relationship between Addie and her cousin Bea and the struggle of these two women to find their place in the years following WWI is emotionally staggering. Clemmie's story on the other hand didn't have the same emotional pull as Addie and Bea's.

There is a beautiful fairytale poem written by Christina Rosetti called Goblin Market about two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, that Addie is extremely fond of. Every day the goblins go past Laura and Lizzie's house selling their goblin fruit. Laura wants the fruit so badly, she cuts off a lock of her hair in exchange for the fruit. But with all magical items there is a price. Laura yearns only for the goblin fruit she can no longer have. Every day she gets sicker until she is on the verge of dying. Lizzie saves her sister. "'For there is no friend like a sister In calm or stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, To fetch one if one goes astray. To lift one if one totters down, To strengthen whilst one stands.'" I read this and thought how beautiful and perfect. But Addie never tells Bea how Lizzie saved Laura. It's left out and I feel that what started as a major theme of this story, the love of two sisters, gets left out in the spanning of eras. Clementine doesn't have a sister or brother or significant other who can fill that role so how can her story strengthen what for me was the core of this story?

Addie and Bea are fantastic characters with a fantastic story. Unfortunately, their story is only half of this novel. The prose is evocative and really brought to life the turmoil of England in the years following WWI and that is where this story excels. Trying to tie Clemmie's story to the emotional upheaval of a world on the verge of change wasn't as successful. Her struggles to succeed in a Manhattan law firm paled in comparison to the conflict and love between Addie and Bea.

THE ASHFORD AFFAIR is a compelling story that draws the reader into an era of change; half the time. Unfortunately, the story feels unbalanced because Addie and Bea are strong, dynamic characters. Clementine is a solid character but she doesn't have the same emotional pull that accompanied Addie's point of view. This is an interesting story and Willig's writing is evocative and dramatic. I would definitely read more from Willig, especially her her historical pieces, because she captures the essence of the time beautifully, but for me THE ASHFORD AFFAIR doesn't capture the essence of a saga where the past and present create a seamless truth for all characters.

Book Summary

As a lawyer in a large Manhattan firm, just shy of making partner, Clementine Evans has finally achieved almost everything she’s been working towards—but now she’s not sure it’s enough. Her long hours have led to a broken engagement and, suddenly single at thirty-four, she feels her messy life crumbling around her.

But when the family gathers for her grandmother Addie’s ninety-ninth birthday, a relative lets slip hints about a long-buried family secret, leading Clemmie on a journey into the past that could change everything. . . .

What follows is a potent story that spans generations and continents, bringing an Out of Africa feel to a Downton Abbey cast of unforgettable characters. From the inner circles of WWI-era British society to the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the red-dirt hills of Kenya, the never-told secrets of a woman and a family unfurl.