Note to readers: In the UK, this book is published under the title
Hothouse Flower. From beloved New York Times bestselling author Lucinda
Riley, a "sweeping, poignant saga that will enthrall fans of The House
at Riverton, Rebecca, and Downton Abbey" (Shelf Awareness).Spanning from
the 1930s to the present day, from the Wharton Park estate in England to
Thailand, this sweeping novel tells the tale of a concert pianist and
the aristocratic Crawford family, whose shocking secrets are revealed,
leading to devastating consequences. As a child, concert pianist Julia
Forrester spent many idyllic hours in the hothouse of Wharton Park, the
grand estate reminiscent of Downton Abbey where her grandfather tended
exotic orchids. Years later, while struggling with overwhelming grief
over the death of her husband and young child, she returns to this
tranquil place. There she reunites with Kit Crawford, heir to the estate
and her possible salvation. When they discover an old diary, Julia seeks
out her grandmother to learn the truth behind a love affair that almost
destroyed the estate. Their search takes them back to the 1940s when
Harry, a former heir to Wharton Park, married his young society bride,
Olivia, on the eve of World War II. When the two lovers are cruelly
separated, the impact will be felt for generations to come. This
atmospheric story alternates between the magical world of Wharton Park
and Thailand during World War II. Filled with twists and turns, passions
and lies, and ultimately redemption, The Orchid House is a beautiful,
romantic, and poignant novel.
