| Title | : | Meant for Me (The Carlyle Women #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 302 |
| Publication | : | First published September 1, 2018 |
Soon Chloe is swept up in the heady tides of change in the young 20th century. The NAACP moves forward in the midst of race riots, women’s fight to gain the vote is at its peak. Chloe becomes the independent woman she never thought possible. But then the unexpected forces her to return home. Yet even in the South, the 1920’s are roaring with flappers, speak-easies and the Charleston, and for a time Chloe loses her way--a reluctant member of the “Lost Generation” in postwar America.
She loved one man and lost him and now is pursued by another but will she ever be able to connect with the one she hopes could help her make sense of her life? As she recalls the woman she once was, she strives to become the woman she wants to be. Will she succeed?
The Carlyle Women-four generations,
each facing the challenges of her time
and each harboring her own painful secret~
Meant for Me (The Carlyle Women #1) Reviews
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Meant for Me was a powerful novel that followed the turbulent life of a young lady named Chloe. I felt so sorry for Chloe and the way she had been raised. She may have had all of the earthly treasures available to a wealthy family, yet she was never truly loved by her parents.
Something Chloe struggled with throughout the entire novel was the desire to escape. Many of her decisions were based on trying to escape some situation that was unpleasant. As Chloe tried to manage everything herself and ran away from things that were hard, she ended up with a whirlwind of ups and downs in her life.
This was a very interesting and riveting novel that I would definitely recommend to historical fiction fans.
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c... -
1917-1930 Maryland
Engaging family drama set against the backdrop of WWI and the 1920s. -
This is a Christian historical romance that takes place during the roaring twenties and the beginning of the great depression (1917 to 1930). It is a quick, easy read, but also has a deeper layer: how do individuals deal with insecurity and moral temptation, and what happens to their faith when they undergo trials? The attention to historical details makes the story come alive; it gives you the feeling that you are actually there. The characters are well developed also; you find yourself routing for some to make the right choices and truly disliking others. Any fan of historical fiction will love this novel.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author, but the opinions expressed here are my own. -
Before I start writing this I wanted to warn you,—I have never written a review before, so please give me grace!
This book was most definitely an emotional roller coaster. While reading this I was almost constantly exasperated with Chloe (the main character). Yet, so many times throughout, I understood Chloe’s thought process, and therefore I became super angry with other characters. (Like the mother! Ahhh!) Sad to say I controlled my emotions a lot worst than Chloe did regarding people and situations.😂.
This book took place over many years. One chapter would say “eight years later” and that would make me depressed, “like what did I miss in those eight years?!!” But it was essential to the book, because as I said, this book is detailed and takes place over quite a few years. The characters also start out very immature, and it takes awhile for some of the characters to grow up.
I said I really liked this book, but I’m giving it 3 stars because of the really bad typos. I usually don’t have a problem with this, so it was super distracting. Some words were spelled wrong so I had to figure out what was trying to be said, and that was annoying.
However, overall, it was a good book!! I liked all the emotions and that made me want to keep reading. The characters were well written, and “life” in the book didn’t seem unrealistic or fluffy, but like real “life!” I would definitely read more books in this series.👍🏻😉😀😛
Always bookish, •Molly• -
DigitalBookSpot
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Meant For Me ( The Carlyle Women #1 )
By: Lyn Cote
Meant For Me is book one in a new series by Lyn Cote in The Carlyle Women. I enjoyed the story it was well written and flowed smoothly. The characters were well developed. I really did not care for Chloe’s father. He was a man that like to control. Chloe loved and lost to the war. Will she ever break loose from her father and find her own way? Will she ever reconnect with her friend whom she seems to have lost . There were tears in my eyes most of the time while reading Meant For Me. This is a very heartwarming story that will touch your heart.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that i had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own. -
Meant for Me by Lyn Cote
Years: 1917- 1920’s
Location: New York City, Charleston, SC
Format: Kindle
Main Characters:
Chloe Kimball: Southern belle
Roark McCaslin: Neighbor and good friend who always loved her
Kitty McCaslin: Chloe’s best friend
Minnie: Chloe’s maid and the nearly best friend
Theran Black: Chloe married to get away from her father
As a historical fiction book – 4 stars I found the history around the WWI through the 20’s fascinating.
As a secular fiction book – 3 stars. Big gaps in the flow of the book left the reader wondering what just happened. There would be an intriguing conversation, then it’s weeks later, or once 10 years later. People were dropped in the book with little to no explanation. People didn’t share their feelings, and assumed too much. Frustrating.
As a Christian fiction book – 2 stars. I don’t find it truly Christian fiction when a book is as secular as many secular books, then toward the end the writer throws in some verses or church service and call it Christian. This book gave the reader no indication it was heading toward anything remotely Christian until the end when a hymn was brought up and suddenly lives changed…in like 3 pages. In fact, until the end, I thought I had mistakenly picked up a non-Christian book. No gospel, just God’s acceptance of you as you are…period. Nothing about Christ, or His saving work on the cross. Meh.
Something to add...As I recall, this may have been written under another name. I saw something with nearly the same blurb, same names, but some places were changed (such as where Chloe grew up). Perhaps this is written with a more Christian theme under another title, as the only books I've read by Ms. Cote were faith based, so this one really surprised me.
Yep, here it is. But the series was called Women of Ivy Manor not Carlyle Women…
Chloe -
What a wonderful story! The book "Meant For Me" is a vivid example of life in the early 1900's 0n up to the Great Depression. Chloe Carlisle is a young woman of privilege who is swept off her feet by a young soldier. When they marry and he goes off to WWI, Chloe has to learn how to make it on her own in New York, away from her distant family and friends. It's an emotional story as Chloe journeys through her life, with society's rules determining her path. It makes for a compelling story as she has a daughter and unofficially adopts a young boy during the wartime helping with the needy orphans. Her parents are a source of pain for her and a sometimes help, as she tries to figure out her place and who she really loves.
Her friends are a distinctive group, with Kitty, the wild child and Roarke, her serious brother, as well as Minnie, a young colored woman that went from being a servant to being a stage presence. I thoroughly enjoyed Chloe's story, as she grew from a starry-eyed young woman to a self-assured strong woman who knows what she wants. I highly recommend this book and really look forward to continuing reading the series. Thanks to the author, Lyn Cote, for the memorable story and the complimentary copy-a very good book that I enjoyed reading and reviewing! -
It's 1917 and freedom and equality were still seemingly elusive for many. How much would the Great War change their lives? Large plantations were still the same, only known by different names. Houses were run by black people who weren't slaves but neither were they treated as equals. Injustice for these folks was no different that for the poor. Unfortunately it was not much different for Chloe, whose parents, while very rich, saw her as another pawn to be moved wherever they wanted her.
Finding the courage to leave home, Chloe thought she would find herself. Heartache, new experiences and finally being totally alone brought her to a crossroads. Would she finally find what she was looking for?
I received this book from the author and all opinions are my own. -
Meant for Me by Lyn Cote is a great historical/women's fiction novel. The plot moves quickly. There is plenty of action to keep the scenes flying. Also, the emotional journey is strong. War is happening during this time period. Loved ones are drafted or signed up to serve. Some never make it back home, while others come back injured or different. Overbearing parents of the main female protagonist caused me to feel sympathy for her. She escapes with the help of her black maid and best guy friend. Once away, she marries a man she likes. Trouble still finds it way to her and those she cares about...heartfelt and entertaining this book was wonderful! The ending was a major cliffhanger. I can't wait to dive into the next book.
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This story spans the time frame from pre-WWI to the market crash in 1929 and explores the relationship between two wealthy southern families. This was a turbulent time with changing attitudes toward traditional values and what's important in life. The story portrays the parents who are trying to keep their way of life that suits them despite its flaws and their twenty-something children who want to create their own world separate from their parents and learn to deal with the consequences of bad choices.
It's not a story of triumph over adversity as it is a tale of how to adapt, change, and grow. It's the first in this series that will give you the opportunity to get to know the cast of characters more deeply in the following books. -
Victims never were interesting to me. Lack of any confidence (especially in woman) annoy me. Both Chloe and Roanoke exhibited these two traits throughout most of the book. I kept hoping the story would improve. Conversely, Kitty, Roanoke's vivacious sister, was an inconsistent character which exhibited broad swings in personality. Drake, a playboy millionaire wanted to marry Chloe and waited a decade to propose! All of this transpired during the turn of the century, WWI and into the great depression. Add to these pathetic characters is a philandering selfish father and a caustic self absorbed mother.
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WWI, Prohibition, and the Roaring 20's - through one young woman's eyes
Fast-paced story about the impulsive decisions made by a young woman as the U.S. enters the Great War. Chloe is desperate to escape her parents and the atmosphere at Carlyle Place (formerly Plantation.) As her life changes drastically from her visions, Chloe makes decisions that never seem quite what her heart desires. Very well written historical fiction that covers the tumult of the war years through to the start of the Great Depression. This is the first of 4 novels following the Carlyle women. -
I liked the storyline and the plot (these could be the same things?) and the characters. But there were sections in the story that just did not ring true to the character, and also some of the fairly important characters were never heard about again. Later I understood that this is a series and those characters will probably be written about in those books, but the way they just disappeared bothered me.
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Excellent portrayal of characters
This book tells the story of two families during the years between World War I and the aftermath of the 1929 Stock Market crash. It is a story of the deaths of many soldiers and unrequited love between friends. The torn feelings of a war widow and her best friend, a disabled soldier, form the basis of a story that spans the years, and creates the catalyst for a new generation. -
Wartime and love
A griping book by Lyn Cote full of love and loss. The choices that can shape our lives can also change it in an instant, while readjusting to that new direction can take an intense toll on people. Will love ever get the chance to bloom? Will true freedom ever be enjoyed? Are glass ceilings really meant to be broken? Discover for yourself in "Meant For Me"! -
This made me think more about changes that came due to WWI and the people who lived through it.
So many changes so quickly were made to both society and the country and the world.
This book follows one of the Carlyle women through about 15 years of her life as she comes to adulthood and the way her life changes as the Great Depression hits. -
Chloe's life is filled with sadness: parents who fight, her husband's death during the Great War, distance from her daughter. She struggles with feelings of failure. One glorious moment early in this epic story gave me happy tears and reminded me that protest marches are a historical tradition in this country.
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A life story full of heartache, family strife, loss and love. A mesmerizing tale with intense characters and fascinating storyline. Another good story by this author. I was given a complimentary copy of the story. This review is my own personal opinion. No review was required.
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Early 20th century times
Fascinating story of families in the early 20th century and how the changes in the world (war and it's aftermath and economic depression) effected their love life and families.
