I loved this book. The history of a house, the people who lived in the house and an old Beech Wood tree that stood for years and witnessed heartache and secrets. Set in the present time, during World War 1 and 1934. Ann is trying to remember something. Phoebe has kept a secret and Connor is trying to find out what secret his grandmother Ivy discovered. Phoebe is an artist who struggles to paint and look after herself. Her daughter Ann tries to help. When the old beech wood tree falls over in a storm a hidden box is found in the trunk containing mysterious empty seed packets. Ann, Phoebe and Connor try to solve the mystery of why Ivy tried to destroy her family’s archives. This was about families, relationships, identity and romance.

This is a favorite author of mine and this book may be my favorite of all her works. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.

This is multi generational heartfelt story that encompasses every human emotion. The author writes so beautifully that she draws the reader into the story and you feel the emotions of all the charcters. I love how enthralled I am by the characters lives and their experiences. That is truly the mark of a great writer.

This book was very compelling reading. This is a story you will be sad to part with at the end. I loved it and look forward to further work by this author.

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. I gave this a 5 stars or 10/10.

Disclaimer I have to let you know in advance that I am a fan of all of Linda Gillard's novels.

When past and present collide due to the findings in the remains of a felled beech tree. Characters from the past and present that are linked to one another through birth. Secrets from the past that have far reaching consequences in the present. As usual Linda Gillard has woven a great idea that seamlessly moves from one time frame to another, that engages the reader in the lives of all the characters.

I feel that some of Linda Gillard's personal experiences over the last few years have helped her with the development of one of the characters and for those people that know her, they'll know to what I am referring to.

Linda Gillard's novels deserve to be widely read and this is no different to the rest of her work. Grab a copy and settle back, let yourself be immersed in the lives of the characters that she creates. Once you've read this one, grab one of her back catalogue you'll not be disappointed.

What a great dual time romance novel. I love novels that go between timeframes and when the story lines link so well and fluidly.
Loved the writing style as well! Thank you NetGalley!

This a dual time story from world war one and present day. When an ancient tree is brought down in a storm hidden seed packets are found inside a hole in its trunk. Each packet is empty but have been glued back shut again and they all hold a hidden secret. This is where the mystery begins.

This was the first novel I have read by Linda Gillard and I must say I did enjoy it enough to look at her other books. The characters are all well drawn and likeable and the story held my attention to the end.

I think it will appeal to readers of historical romance.

This is a beautiful story told in dual timelines. It is very poignant and I loved the characters.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UKand to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

An emotional read which keeps you reading to the end. The story moves from past to present,it is easy to follow and a joy to read, worth missing sleep for.

World War I is the setting and all the young men are going off to fight. The story has a little bit of everything on how war affects all things rich, poor, forbidden love and young women struggling to survive even though they are not on the battle field.

I enjoyed reading The Memory Tree and gobbled it down in a couple of days. There is a story within a story - one is the present day situation of an artist mother and her daughter who has always felt there is a mystery in their family. While restoring the garden with the help of a wannabe landscape gardener, the memories return. The gardener has his own story - from the past - letters and diaries that take all three protagonists on a journey of discovery.

This is a really good beautifully written story. It is a wonderfully told story about war, love, family and loss. It was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is the first book I’ve read by Linda a Gillard, and I must say am I ever glad I read this book! “Can the power of love overcome life’s darkest memories and deepest losses?” This book tells the story of two different families. Families that have terrible dark secrets during some very difficult and dark times in their lives. The book is beautifully written and captures the depth of emotion that these two families must have felt.

The book is so beautiful in description but haunting in sadness. I truly loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book!

1916 and Hester Mordaunt, unexpected mistress of Beechgrave after her father died and her mother was rendered insensible, was grieving. She could understand her mother’s depths of despair after both Hester’s brothers were lost in the intolerable war; Hester felt she had lost everyone she’d ever cared for. With Beechgrave’s Head Gardener also passed, his son, William Hatherwick was elevated to the position. His sister Violet and Hester became close confidants and good friends, supporting one another when William also went to war.

The beech trees out in the woods of Beechgrave held the secrets of decades and in 2016 when Ann returned to care for her mother, Phoebe, she was drawn to those trees once again. But when a wild storm felled Ann’s favourite tree, secrets hidden long ago in the hollow of the trunk were revealed. The arrival of Connor Grenville started an investigation into his family history with Ann and Phoebe entranced and involved. Connor’s grandmother Ivy had recently passed, and the circumstances were troubling Connor. He wanted to find the answers to what had caused Ivy’s distress.

Could Connor dig deeply enough to unearth the century-old secrets? And could Ann discover where her father was?

The Memory Tree (previously titled The Trysting Tree) is my first by Linda Gillard and I was captivated. Her writing is spectacular; I flew through the pages, quite surprised to find I’d reached the end when I did. I loved the story – set in England in the war years of 1916 onwards – and current day (2016) the two-time frames blended beautifully. Hester and Violet; Ann and Phoebe - all strong women with both William and Connor rounding the tale off well. The Memory Tree is one I won’t forget in a hurry – and one I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Century Old Memory. In this repackaging of a 3 yr old book under a former title, Gillard weaves an excellent pair of mysteries across a century of the English countryside. Both mysteries drag the reader in and compel them to keep reading via well paced clues and ultimately resolutions, though one of the mysteries isn't resolved until the closing pages of the book. Excellent work, and my first from this author. Very much recommended.

Linda Gillard is a gorgeous writer. This is the third of hers that I've read, and she is fast becoming one of my favourites. The Memory Tree is a great read - beautifully written with a good cast of characters. I was spellbound.

Would have given it many more than five stars if it had been possible.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.

Brief synopsis from the book cover:
When her favourite beech tree is felled in a storm, Ann feels as if someone has died. But when long-hidden seed packets are found inside the trunk, Ann realises there are more memories than her own lurking within the ancient tree . . .
A century earlier, head gardener William Hatherwick and Hester Mordaunt, mistress of Beechgrave, share a love for the mighty estate – and an undeclared love for each other. But when war breaks out, William is sent to the battlefields of France, and as the conflict rages on, Hester grieves beneath the tree. Can she and William ever find happiness once he’s witnessed the horror of the trenches?
In the present day, historian Connor Grenville wants to understand why his late grandmother tried to destroy Hester’s archive before she died. Who was she trying to protect – and why? His findings bring long-suppressed memories back to Ann’s mind . . .
Beneath the shadow of the tree, love is won and lost, and secrets are hidden and revealed. Will the truth heal the wounds that lie buried in the past?
My rating:

Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Historical fiction
Women’s Fiction

Review:

This is a beautiful evocative story. The book is written over a dual timeline and tells the story of the inhabitants of ’Beechgrave’. The majestic beech trees on the property are silent witnesses to all that life throws at the inhabitants… their love, losses, hopes and dreams.

The writing was very vivid; the plot was original without being predictable or too sweet. The story is well developed, and the different perceptions of each of the characters are neatly woven into it.

Overall this is a enjoyable story, with nice realistic characters, that allows you to escape to a different time and place for a while.


I received an ARC through NetGalley at no cost to me.

What a fantastic book which deals in great depths how secrets can have a devastating effect on people’s lives and also to further generations.
It is refreshing to read a book that deals with the people’s lives of those left behind in the war to end all wars World War 1 when thousands of their menfolk were slaughtered and the implication it had on generations to come.
It is also a love story and a mystery.
Beautifully written dealing with a lot of social implications relevant to the time it was set in.
Just loved it and couldn’t put it down.

I found this an interesting read, although it took me a little while to get into it fully, I have to say. Persevere, is my advice, it is worth it.

This was quite a complex story, set from the points of view of Hester and William (starting around the time of World War I) and then Phoebe, Ann and Connor (in the present day). The main character is Ann though and she has had it tough. She is recently divorced, coming to terms with the fact that she will never have children and her mother, Phoebe, is a tough, independent artist who doesn't have much of a maternal bone in her body. Connor brings some light this situation though and through his friendship with both women and his research on "the big house", a family history is revealed, bit by bit.

The novel was an interesting look at societal expectations around the turn of the last century, what happened to men who went off to fight for King and country and the roles of women as well.

4 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

I loved this book. I could not stop reading once I started reading it. The characters were beautifully developed. Each one an individual that you really cared about..
I would recommend this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book. The two stories, one in the early 2oth century, around WW1, the other in the present day linked well.

I loved this relationship drama. I loved how it seamlessly flowed between past and present and loved the character development
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book it