The Umbrella Lady starts off with Saffron’s mother dying in a fire and her father abandoning her at a train station as a young girl . Mazy, the Umbrella lady finds her and takes her home to care for her until her father returns .
Saffron learns a lot from Mazy but after years her father still hasn’t returned for her . Mazy teaches her lessons and how to care for herself as long as she can. In the end Saffron learns what really happened to her father and who Mazy really was.
This book was ok but dragged in parts and really the best part came at the end . Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC for my honest opinion .

I read all V. C. Andrews books (even though they are ghost written now) and have to say this is the first one in a long time that completely held my interest. A very quick easy read with a slow build but not to slow to have you lose interest. I look forward to the next in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery books and the Author V.C. Andrews for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest,opinion of it. I did not finish it. Definitely not the author I thought it was from Flowers in the Attic. Should be for young adults.

Derick and his 8 year old daughter are starting over after a fire destroyed their home and takes the life of their wife/mother. Derick leaves Saffron sitting on a bench at the train station saying he’s just going to grab a few things to make their trip easier and then seems to disappear. After waiting and waiting for her dad to come back, a kind old lady comes and takes her to her house to wait for her dad to come back. What is supposed to be a temporary arrangement turns into years of living together under the umbrella lady’s (Mazy Dazy) guidance and care. Although she is comfortable there, Saffron always questions why her dad left her and when he would be coming back for her.
The characters were intriguing and the storyline flowed well and the ending resolves most of your questions about what led up to the life changing fire.
Easy read and a good mystery.
Thanks to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Umbrella Lady tells the story of young girl Saffron, who is abandoned at a train station by her father following the untimely demise of her mother. Saffron is picked up by a lady who carries an umbrella, and though a note is left, and Saffron hopes he will come, the girl's father fails to come for her that night.

This book certainly has its merits. It is a fairly quick read (I read it across the span of a day), it sets up an intriguing mystery (where did her father go? who is the umbrella lady, really?), and the sentence-level writing is wuite pleasant. The final twenty or so pages had me glued to my Kindle.

Although this was something of an enjoyable read, there was a lot left to be desired. The plot twist/answer the the mystery comes so near the end that the reader doesn't really have time to process it, and the twist has elements that are odd and a bit underwhelming. The story is narrated by a girl who starts off around 8.5 years old and ends around 13 years old, however she narrates as if she were a 16-year-old. This disconnect between her age and the maturity of her narration often disrupted my suspension of disbelief.

Additionally, although the book seems like it was intended to be set in a modern era, as there are modern artifacts sprinkled throughout (such as the mention of selfies, cell phones, etc.), the piece as a whole feels like it should have been set anywhere between four to eight decades ago. Beyond the setting-in-time, the timeline of this brief book feels awkwardly condensed. At one moment, our narrator is an almost-nine year old who has spent what feels like no more than a week at the umbrella lady's house, and then suddenly several birthdays pass and she is coming up on puberty.

The story itself felt like it had more potential than what ultimately ended up on the page. Yes, I was entertained, and I kept reading because I was desperate to find out what underlying explanation there was for all the oddness that was occurring in Saffron's life. However, the ultimate explanation just felt ridiculous and left me underwhelmed, as my expectations were quite high.

All in all, while I enjoyed this book, I think what I ended up enjoying was what I wished it would become, rather than what it was.

I hadn't read a V.C Andrews for years until I read The Umbrella Lady. I had forgotten how well Ms Andrews could pull you into a story, keep you totally entranced and then slam you with events you never expected by the time you got to the end of the book. The Umbrella Lady was an excellent story. I would highly recommend.

After Saffron loses her mother in a tragic fire at a young age, her father decides to start anew in another town. On their way to their new home, they make a stop to change trains and her father mysteriously vanishes leaving young Saffron alone on the platform, when an older woman, who Saffron refers to as the Umbrella Lady, appears and takes her home while leaving behind a note for her father indicating where they have gone. Unfortunately he never comes back for her and Saffron is left behind with the strange woman. Where is her father? And who is the stranger who shows up and takes her in?

V.C. Andrews has done it again! I loved this story! A great beginning to a new series. Great characters, great story line. A very easy read that flows so well and ends in an explosive way! I cannot wait to read the next installment of this story!

After her mother's tragic death in a fire, young Saffron finds herself at the gates of a new life with his father. While waiting for the train that will make possible this new start, Saffron father's dissappears and this mysterious lady offers herself as Saffron's caretaker. She takes her to her house. In some moments it feels like the lady was waiting for her to arrive. She buys her new clothes and shoes, cuts her hair in an attempt to get rid of the smells, and memories, of her former life, making no visible efforts to find Saffron's father's whereabouts. The relationship between them is constantly strained. The umbrella lady seems to be losing her patience and the little girl lack of trust is palpable.
The only news the girl receives from his father are these laconic letters of doubtable origin, without a return address, in which he states that he will be back for Saffron once he is established in a new home.
Hours become days, and days become months. Months became years. With a minimum contact with the outside world , homeschooled by the Umbrella Lady, Saffron keeps the faith and trusts that, one day, her father will come to take her with him and to start their delayed new life.
This was a very pleasant reading for me, although deeply emotional. I really liked her literary style, the characters building and how she is able to put you in alert all the time. I fell that something terrible was about to happen the whole time. The tension is building up throughout the book but at the same time is over there, like a crouching animal about to attack very constant and steadfast.
The atmosphere is incredibly suspenseful and the ending, at least for me, completely unexpected.
I would recommend it and I will be reading the next book of the saga for sure.

I have been provided with a review copy of The Umbrella Lady from NetGalley for an impartial review. This is the first book in the brand-new The Umbrella series and this was just such a great way to start off a new series. I just really enjoyed this story and I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

"A young girl who has lost her father finds herself at the mercy of a mysterious woman who is not quite what she seems in this atmospheric and unputdownable novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Flowers in the Attic series turned into popular Lifetime movies.

Left on a train platform in an unfamiliar village, little Saffron Faith Anders is certain her father will return shortly, just like he promised. She holds out hope even as the hours pass and the station grows dark. When a strange old woman with a large umbrella approaches and inquiries about her situation, Saffron doesn’t immediately trust the imposing do-gooder, but with the chances of her father returning growing ever slimmer, she agrees to rest at the old woman’s house.

Her stay was supposed to be for a few minutes, hours at most, but soon, Saffron soon realizes she has been confined to a house of dark secrets and is now at the mercy of the enigmatic Umbrella Lady. One minute grandmotherly and the next wickedly cruel, she shears Saffron’s hair, burns all the clothes she had in her suitcase, and pretends that the photo of a young girl hanging on her bedroom wall is no one in particular. When strange letters arrive from Saffron’s father, claiming that he will send for her shortly, hope returns to her young heart. But Saffron soon discovers that those who claim to love you will often hurt you the most...."

Sounds deliciously classic V.C. Andrews!

A wonderful easy read that flows quickly and keeps you glued. The words are a bit YA and flowery but the book is still super enjoyable and the mystery keeps you guessing. A relaxing read it is highly recommended.

it was a great read that only V.C.Andrews could give us. I have read alot of her books. her characters are twisted and like to get revenge. I have loved her books for many years, starting with flowers in the attic. If you like her books you will love this one.

This story was chilling and suspenseful. As with other tales by this author, the words almost make the reader think they are feeling what the characters are. A most thrilling read.

I couldn't get past the first 50 pages. It read like the rough draft of a creative writing freshman. All flowery phrases and angst and no plot. Not for me.

Once you start, you won’t want to stop until you finish. The Umbrella Lady will capture you, drag you in, and keep you mesmerized until the end, leaving you with wanting more.

Derick Anders and his eight year old daughter, Saffron are about to start anew after a tragic fire destroys their home, possessions, and Derick’s wife, Lindsey.

Left sitting on a bench at the train station while her father leaves to get refreshments and supplies, Saffron is left stranded until the umbrella lady (aka Mazy Dazy,) appears and convinces Saffron to seek shelter at her home. What is supposed to be a few hours, ends up to be years with the mystery disappearance of Saffron’s father remaining unsolved.

I really enjoyed The Umbrella Lady inasmuch as the character development of Mazy and Saffron is intriguing to say the least. Mazy the eccentric, Saffron the naive, and Derick the enigma. All of these characters play out well into a puzzle of a novel that will keep you guessing until the end. Full of plot twists and turns, it is a must read for mystery and V. C. Andrews fans. Five stars.

I received a digital ARC from Gallery Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Little Saffron Anders didn't notice the time pass as she colored in her new coloring book, waiting for her father to return to her at the train station. An old woman, with a large umbrella, brings to her attention that its late, and she is by herself, which isn't safe.
The Umbrella Lady offers her a warm meal, and a place to sleep while she waits for her father to come back. Weeks turn into years as Saffron realizes her father is never coming back for her.
Saffron is not allowed out of the house and has no contact with children her age. She feels like a prisoner, but has never been told she couldn't leave. After all, The Umbrella Lady is only trying to help....

It has been years since I have read a VC Andrews book. Picking up her newest novel is like meeting up with an old friend. All the deciet, drama and secrets found in her other books, are in this one.
In the traditional VC Andrews way, this book starts off with a series of tragic events that eventually lead to a child being abandoned. The twist in this new novel, is that the child is found by a stranger. No incestuous Uncle or Wicked Stepmother, but a little old lady.
The Umbrella Lady is a perfectly wicked and warm character. She is strict with rules, with bouts of rage, but comforts and forgives in her own way. Even though the story is about Saffron, The Umbrella Lady is star. You love and hate her, and cant wait to see what lie she spouts off next.
This book is the first in a new series. There was a teaser at the end, but I chose to not read it. I want to be surprised when I pick up the next one. I really can't wait to see what happens next.

So I was drawn in by the fact this was VC Andrews, but didn't realize in the moment that there was a ghost writer (Andrew Neiderman).

Granted, I could have googled all of that, but nonetheless, I didn't.

The book is okay, and I think part of that disappointment came from the fact I found out it wasn't one of her pieces, it was the ghost writer's work.

If you enjoyed his past pieces written under her name (someone clue me in as to why this is a thing??) then you'd most likely enjoy this. Otherwise, you might want to pass on it, as I struggled to hold my interest.

I’ve been a fan of V.C. Andrews books every since they first started coming out back when I was just a teen with Flowers In the Attic. And yes, I know the books are now being written by a ghost writer named Andrew Neiderman and that he’s been ghostwriting for 26 years since the passing of Virginia Andrews. It seems there is a lot of controversy over this which I don’t understand. He is a wonderful writer and once again the proof is in this book. This was a great story and one I couldn’t put down. It’s about a little girl named Saffron, whose father leaves sitting on a bench at a train station all the while promising to be back for her after he does a little shopping. After the train station closes she is found by The Umbrella Lady and is taken to her home to stay. From reading so many other V.C. Andrews books I knew that something about this storyline was going to be twisted which held my interest and piqued my curiosity. It’s not until close to the end where the final little twist reveals the whole truth about Saffron’s connection to Mazy Dazy, aka The Umbrella Lady. And boy was it a good one! On 02/02/2021, which is the publication date, I’ll be running out to grab my copy to add to my home collection of all V.C. Andrews books. But for now I’m left anxiously awaiting a chance to read the sequel Out Of the Rain to see how Saffron’s future goes as she heads home to Daddy! I’d like to thank Gallery Books for granting my request and NetGalley for the arc to read, review and enjoy. This book was a 5 star read for me.

The train that never came

Saffron is a young child, her father tells her to wait on the bench at the train station. He says he will return and they will catch another train. He never returns. A lady with an umbrella takes her home with her. She waits every day for her father to come and get her, he never does.

The story is told from the girl's thoughts and feelings. The fear she feels at the beginning as a very young child, and as she grows and finally realizes her father will not come and grows fond of Mazy. It is written as if she is telling you the story, not as dialogue between characters. It is not a style I particularly like to read.

Her first days at school, the horrible event, and finally finding out Mazy's secret, and the reason her father never came back for her. These are as traumatic to her as her father leaving her at the train station. The ending is a little abrupt as if there is a sequel coming.

The book is a bit different than most of the other books I have read by this author. It is a bit repetitious in spots. It did keep me reading because I wanted to know how it ended.
Thanks to V.C. Andrews, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to a copy of the book for an honest review.

This was an okay story. I liked the secrets buried in the past of the main character, and I enjoyed the twists and turns that are created through out the story. It just felt a little like so many other books that have been released from this author lately.