This book was OK, not my favorite, but not the worst.
The plot itself was ok, little predictable. It did have one twist I didn't predict. But the story was hard for me to get into. It didn't seem to flow easily and I found myself drifting while reading.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I understand there are ghostwriters for any V.C. Andrews new book. However, I feel that the quality of the stories for a few new books has declined. The tone and captivating elements that were V.C. Andrews's signatures are no longer there. This story was bland and boring. Even the girls that are protagonists don't have color in their personalities. There was no hook at any point that keeps me wanting to know more. It is a huge letdown. I don't ever not finish a story; therefore, I pushed through to the end of this. However, it took some hard determination to do it. This particular ghostwriter doesn't impress me with his or her writing.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an OK read- I got sucked in by the VC Andrews connection even though I know, as others have said, that these books are ghostwritten now and have been for years. It centers on Saffron, who is 8 years old and traveling with her father after the untimely death of her mother, when she is picked up from a train platform by an older lady who is claiming to be there to help her because her father has vanished.

This was an interesting plot that uncovered some secrets in Saffron's past and culminated in a couple big twists, one that I saw coming and one that was a surprise (though less so if you read a lot of Andrews' books). While the plot was interesting, the pace was rather slow, with many situations and conversations happening repeatedly throughout the book. Sometimes one conversation would take many pages and others times, months will pass in the same page. That being said, I wanted to find out where it would end up and what secrets would be revealed.

So, overall, decent read- not hugely memorable but not bad either. There was an excerpt for the next book in this new series at the end and I am interesting in reading it to find out more about the skeletons in the closet of Saffron's family. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have seen a lot of backlash towards Andrew Neiderman for ghost writing V.C. Andrew's books. I am well aware that V.C. Andrews passed away years ago and I am not comparing this book to any of hers or her writing, I simply read it and the review below is based on its own merits.

I wouldn't normally read a ghost written V.C. Andrew's book but something about the description drew me in and I’m glad it did. This is a slow burn of a story with a twist at the end, part of which I figured out and one that I didn't. This held my attention and curiosity throughout the book and even though they are lengthy each chapter whizzed by as I read more and more until it was done.

The story is well written and engaging, I found it difficult to put down. At times I did find it a little slow going...as it is told first person perspective and the person is eight and nine months for almost half the book...but please persist as it is a good read. There was also a snippet of Book II and I look forward to reading that as well.

SPOILER ALERT:
Definitely a very different take on an abduction story?? Believable characters well-drawn, including the voice of a child. There's a lot to take in at the end but ultimately it's a satisfying - and unexpected - conclusion.

***I have rounded up because of the one star ratings by people who haven't read the book. They are certainly entitled to their opinions and reasons why as am I.

I enjoyed this book. It was a classic V. C. Andrew’s style story. Kept me in suspense until the end. I can not wait for the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC. I requested this book only because it was VC Andrews and i will read anything by this author. I just felt it was a good book and i thought "ok, this isnt one of the ones where the granddaughter looks like the mom" or so forth but once I got to the end I thought OK how did I miss all the clues! Now i cannot wait for book 2. this was such a shocking ending and I didnt even see it coming! WOW

Eight-year-old Saffron Faith Anders waits for her father’s return only to discover that she has been abandoned at the train platform. As Saffron's concern about her situation increases, an elderly woman with an umbrella arrives and convinces her to come home with her while she waits for her father’s return. Once inside the woman's home, Saffron quickly realizes that it was a mistake. Confined in the woman's home; the woman's temper turns from grandmotherly to wicked in an instant. Saffron begins to plot her escape in hopes of being reunited with her father.

The Umbrella Lady is a novel of family secrets and one girls attempt to discover the truth. This novel took me a bit to get through as I couldn't really get into the plot or connect with any of the characters. Although the novel is set in present day, it felt as if I had stepped into the past. This was a bit of a disappointing read as I loved V.C. Andrews novels when I was younger. I realize that most of her work is completed by a ghost writer but it just feels like a rehashed version of her early works. The other thing I found interesting was this first book in the series spans approximately four years of the girl’s life. I bumped this one up to three stars because it does have an interesting plot twist at the end however, I don't think I will be interested in reading the next book in the series.

This book was the perfect escape. It was lovely and fun. It was my first book by this author and I will definitely be on the look out for more!!

This was not the book that I thought I was reading. I had to DNF it bc of the contents. O think some other people would enjoy it, but I could not.

"...a lady holding a closed black umbrella with a silver handle...she was suddenly there, as if she had taken shape from a shadow". Saffron Faith Anders, nine years old, was sitting on a bench on a train platform, in an unfamiliar village. Her father had left her with a coloring book and crayons. "...work on this until I come back from getting a few things...". "Where was he?...I felt like crying...Should I just run up the road screaming for him?" The Umbrella Lady approached Saffron. "I'll be like your guardian angel. Who else but a guardian angel would have rescued you from a closed train station on a cold, dark night?"

Not wanting to stay at the train station in the darkness, Saffron decided it was logical to wait for her father at the Umbrella Lady's house. "...you mustn't be afraid of coming with me, Saffron. I'm full of good things as a jar of mixed jelly beans". The Umbrella Lady's house was "a real gingerbread house, orange-brown with a white roof".

"If your father doesn't come today, maybe he'll come tomorrow, but you shouldn't worry. Your room is ready for you...When you're with me for a while,...you will grow older quickly. There is no baby time...for someone left at a train station". Why was there a little girl's room replete with brand new soft pajamas, atop a white, four poster bed? The Umbrella Lady promptly discarded Saffron's travel bag of clothes and then proceeded to chop off Saffron's hair. Everything must be clean and fresh. "...weeks from now, you'll thank me...". According to Saffron,"I felt like I had fallen down a well, like Alice who fell into Wonderland, only I was still falling".

"Did everyone change into a different person? Why would those who claim to love you often hurt you the most...?" "Saffron soon realizes she has been confined to a house of dark secrets and is now at the mercy of the enigmatic Umbrella Lady...[who is] one minute grandmotherly, and the next wickedly cruel".

"The Umbrella Lady" by V.C. Andrews is ghostwritten by Andrew Neiderman. Not having read or viewed the "Flowers in the Attic" series by V.C. Andrews, this reader cannot venture a guess as to how this tome compares to Andrews's actual prior writings. That said, this reader had no preconceived expectations for this enjoyable read.

Thank you Gallery Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Saffron's mother died in a house fire. In which her father was able to save her. A day later she leaves with her father on a train. They get off at a stop and her father tells her he has to make a few stops and to wait for him their. She waits fir him until an older women stops by to see if she needs help. The older women will become instrumental in Saffron's life. I. enjoyed the different characters in this book. I cant wait to read V C Andrew's next book.

Eh, it was okay I guess. It felt like I've read it before and it's predictable. I have no desire to read the sequel. I think it's weird that it's "written" by V.C. Andrews.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.