I loved the sound of this book but unfortunately really struggled to get in to it. In fact I'm still only maybe half way through after putting it down a number of times. Maybe I'll finish it at a later date.

Katharine Bird lives in Clerkenwell, England and she works as a sales assistant at busy department store. At the end of a long day, she goes home to help her mother with her younger siblings and she’s extremely close to her little sister Mabel.

At work she meets Anselmo Ferrandis, after a quick courtship and they get married three weeks later. Anselmo plans to travel to Brazil, he wants to buy a rubber plantation and live in the remote Amazon jungle. Tragically he drowns not long after he buys his land, Katharine’s a pregnant widow at eighteen and she’s determined to run the rubber plantation herself. When she arrives at Norwood it’s not at all what she’s expecting, the buildings are in terrible condition and the entire plantation needs a lot of work. Patrick McNamara owns a large rubber plantation, he gives Katharine some much needed advice and she hires a cook Philippe, a clerk Charles and a hundred laborers. Katharine wants to fulfill her husband’s dream, living in the Amazon jungle is really hard, she has to battle the elements, insects, snakes, food shortages, illness, and she gives birth to a baby boy Antonio and raises him in a remote environment.

Mabel Bird is the youngest in the family, Katharine wants her to finish school and she sends money home to her family in England. She has no idea, her father has been injured at work, her little sister has to leave school and Mabel starts work as a housemaid. The hours are long for a thirteen year old girl, her hands are raw from scrubbing pot and pans and she attracts unwanted attention from her employer’s husband. Mable’s finds a new job as a ladies maid, a step up and better working conditions. Lady Alexandra has beautiful clothes, she takes care of them, does her hair, makeup and she really loves her new job. Mabel's a very pretty young woman, being a servant, it makes her a target of the unwanted advances of men living in the house and it happens again.

Along the Endless River is a historical saga about two sisters struggling to survive in a man’s world, they both are extremely strong women and they need to be, to deal with the challenges they both face on a daily basis. Despite being an ocean apart, one day they hope to see each other again and be reunited.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, an interesting story set in the remote Amazon jungle and the mansions of London and four stars from me.

Always been a fan of historical fiction. Loved reading this book. A true journey into World War II fiction indeed. If you are up for a heartbreak, go for it.

One of those very special books that you wish would never end! Everything about this book is superb...the characters, the setting, the depiction of life in a part of the world and in a time frame most readers are unfamiliar with, and most of all the quality of the descriptive writing. It all merged together and flowed seamlessly, creating torrents, whirlpools and eddies for the reader to navigate through. Katherine stole my heart from the first few pages and I found myself cheering for her as she bravely forged ahead in the hostile male dominant environment of a rubber plantation deep in the Amazon. So many setbacks that never deterred her from her goal of helping her family in London. Each character is fleshed out - even Po Po. I loved Esperanza as well. Also so appreciated Katherine’s respect for the natives near Norwood. The treatment they received from Katherine earned their love and respect as they seemed to become part of her “family”. Wishing that more rubber barons had treated their natives with more respect. Loved learning about the rubber barons and life during this time frame in the forests of the Amazon. Was especially surprised by descriptions of the effects of intense moisture in the environment on every day necessities like paper records, clothing, and even furniture.
Then we get to know sweet naive Mabel, her much younger sister. Her story was so heartbreaking. It brought the plight of the lowly servants/slaves throughout history and what they had to endure and suffer through because of their position in life.
Some of the revelations at the dramatic conclusion of this book did not come as a surprise to me...especially the vile acts committed by Mac. I would so love to know the future of Katherine, Thomas, Lily, and Elspeth, as well as Antonio. Would also like to know what happens to Mayhew.
So many moral topics brought to light within this beautiful story. Much admiration for Rose Alexander, Canelo Saga, and NetGalley for the exquisite pleasure of having an arc of this incredible book published three days ago. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I really thought this book was stunning, and found it quite impossible to put down. I don’t know how much you know about the colonisation of the Amazon rainforests in Victorian times, the atrocities that were committed in the name of capitalising on the need for the need for rubber to provide the tyres for those new-fangled cars, the obscene fortunes made by the rubber barons through the exploitation of the indigenous people – no, me neither, but I certainly loved learning more.

Against that backdrop, we get to know Katharine – I do love a book that has a strong and complex woman at its heart – who leaves her beloved family and her work as a shopgirl to travel to the Amazon with new husband Anselmo in the hope of making their fortunes. When Anselmo is tragically killed, and Katharine understands the extent of debt he has incurred in following their dream, she has little choice but to carry on alone – rejecting the offers of powerful baron Mac to buy her out, she travels on with a small group of supporters to set up the estate at Norwood, intent on operating ethically (unlike the many others) and hopeful of success with her dangerous venture.

The first part of the book focuses entirely on Katharine’s endeavours, and I have to say I thought the writing and storytelling were quite superb, the obstacles and moments of well-wrought drama coming thick and fast. This is an incredibly hostile environment, vividly and often beautifully described – and the actions of others often make things many times more challenging. And while Katharine strives for survival and success against all the odds, there’s always too a strong focus on family, on how the profit she hopes to make will improve the lot of her family back in England – and she particularly misses her young sister Mabel.

As Katharine’s struggles continue, we then have the opportunity to catch up with other members of her family – her feckless opportunist of a brother, and sister Mabel who’s been forced into service after misfortune befalls the family. I must say I enjoyed (perhaps the wrong word…) Mabel’s story as much as Katharine’s, as she discovers the realities and danger of life on the lowest rung of the ladder. The stories do very cleverly converge… but exactly how I think I must allow you to discover.

There was so much I really loved about this book – the exceptional descriptions that brought the Amazon to life (along with its towns and settlements), the strong women at the core of the story who had me willing them on at every turn, the wonderfully written moments of drama, the quieter moments of reflection and emotion, the unexpected twists that often drive the story in directions you’re not expecting. The research that went into this book must have been immense, and the way the author made use of it was sheer perfection – I was entirely transported to both the locations and their era, and you really can’t ask for much more than that.

This was one of those rare books that I found quite impossible to set aside until I’d reached its perfect end, and I felt quite bereft to leave its characters behind – if ever there was a book crying out for a sequel, then this must be it. Very highly recommended.

(Review will be copied to Amazon UK on publication day)

Katherine and her husband Anselmo sail to Brazil to grow rubber in the Amazons. Anselmo dies on the Amazon River and Katherine decides to try to carry on in Brazil. Katherine must find which serpents mean to end her success in the Amazon. I loved this book, was disappointed when it finally ended. Very well written!

In 1890 newlyweds, Katharine and Anselmo leave London for the booming rubber industry in the Amazon rainforest. Katharine has her doubts but is willing to embark on this adventure with her new husband by her side. Shortly after arriving in the Amazon, Anselmo's body is brought back to a pregnant Katharine. She then finds out that to fund this venture, Anselmo has put them deeply in debt, even taking her parent's life savings. Katharine must now decide if she is going to fold and go back to London, or continue on to her rubber tree farm. Katharine's sister Mabel is in London and becomes a maid to help support the family. She discovers her own dangers in that position. #AlongtheEndlessRiver is a coming of age story of two women and the life they eke out for themselves. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my honest review.

I just could not get into this book. I read until at least page 100 but couldn't go on anymore. I pretty sure someone else would like it, but I just couldnt get into it.

Thanks Netgalley for this book. I usually don't read this type of books, but I enjoyed this one. This is about romance, revenge, greed.
This was a good read. 3 stars.

Katharine looked forward to a new life with Anselmo. They decided to leave London to pursue their dream. I really struggled with this book, but I did keep going and read it through and enjoyed it.
A bit of sadness and the undeniable struggle to succeed for Katherine.

Rose Alexander takes the reader back in time to the turn of the twentieth century when Amazonian rubber Barrons were kings of industry. Katherine, a shop girl from London, and her new husband were risking it all to be a part of this money-making venture. When he was killed in a steamer accident, Katherine is left to run this venture. Along the Endless River is the story of Katherine's life along the Amazon. It is story of greed, might-makes-right mentality, prejudice, love, and revenge.

This book is a look at part of history seldom discussed. I was allowed to read this book on #netgelley.