The GingerBread House Paperback – May 26, 2016

I have a true respect for historical fiction writers because nothing is harder, to my thinking, than bringing characters to life believably in an age when you yourself didn’t live. The author succeeds here along with the best of them. He has a gift for colloquial dialogue befitting an era. If anything, that was also my one complaint. I had to slow my reading down often to take in the odd phrasing that was en vogue for the era, but sounds curious to modern ears and the vernacular is easy to trip over. That said, it also arguably goes a long way to painting poignant characters.I found the book from the first page to the last to be very heart-warming. It depicts and old man sharing his life during the early 1900s with a young boy, his grandson. That the elder gent has lived an interesting life there can be no doubt. But it’s the sweetness of the characters themselves and the tenderness of the moments they spend together, and the cherished memories that stitch their lives together that make you long for days gone by. Not just for the long lost era of the 1900s, but even of the calm interludes that in our day and age can bring an older grandpa and a younger grandson together to share quality time like this, which are so hard to come by. That’s the second thing I look for in great historical fiction: that it leaves me with a genuine sense of loss. As ages go by, mankind progresses, yes, but always at a price, and always by sacrificing something dear about ourselves we would have been wise to hold on to. This book conveys this sentiment in spades.

As one reviewer said, I too have a true respect for historical fiction writers, and having done it once, I have to admit it’s one of the more difficult genre to write in; however, when it’s done right and researched properly, it makes for an enjoyable read, and the author has done due diligence here.The pacing is great, the characters well fleshed out and the dialogue true to the period. Several times I find myself mouthing some of the conversations to see how it rolled off my tongue. That there was strong love and respect in the relationships between the characters are very evident, despite the sometime grumpy tone of Elizabeth. Also, Will’s love for his grandson is beautifully conveyed in the easy going relationship between the two. They conversed like two men, and that set the tone of the book for me. Great read!

I was undecided at first on the review rating for this book. The story takes a whole to unfold and at first seems like a life recollection, which it is as Thomas goes to spend time with his grandfather, Will Barton. Thomas learns a bit of his grandfather's life as Will tells him the story of meeting Laurel. As the story unfolds, readers are going to find hidden secrets in the past. I think the way the author tells the story and the quality of the writing gives this book a special quality and makes it a five star read.

As a lover of historical fiction, this book gave me all I was looking for and more.The stories are very much character driven with individual tales about a local population, how they feel, think and behave. This was so well written, I felt invested in the protagonists and their lives. Some were likeable, others made me shake my head at their hypocrisies, but all kept me fully engaged.If you're looking for a historical romance, mystery, and of good solid writing, look no further. 5 stars.

The early 1900s are brought to life in this suspenseful tale of a young man who returns home and finds the woman of his dreams. Dreams can become nightmares and for an orphaned girl, bad dreams are a constant. What people do to each other in the name of proper decorum is a trial to the man who has seen much of the world as a reporter. The enigma of the woman draws him into a situation beyond what he thought possible. Well written and enjoyable.

Absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! Normally, historical type fiction isn't my genre, but the summary on this one caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. I am considering reading other historical fiction, this was so great.The story is perfect for the time frame,, the setting was described wonderfully, but my favorite part---the characters! To me, they totally make a story worthwhile. From the good, to the bad, and even to the romantic love interest, this book was sensational. I'm happy I stumbled across it on Amazon!! I don't want to give away plot details, but I recommend checking this out!

This was a delightful story set in the 1900’s. The grammar used by some characters was a bit difficult to understand but I mastered it after a while. I was attracted to the book by its name – The Gingerbread House. It sounded like a fairy tale and indeed, it was similar. It was a romance/mystery filled with nostalgia, love, and mirth. I enjoyed it very much and will recommend it to readers who love this genre.

With beauty and charm, the author shares an old man's memories of a love worth fighting for. Set in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century, Richard's vignettes frolic and tumble through magical moments of nostalgia, sadness, bigotry and hate.

I adored this book. Full of descriptive, almost lyrical prose and characters that are unforgettable, The Gingerbread House is a book that I can see myself reading again and again.Set in the early 1900s The Gingerbread House tells the story of Will Barton, a journalist who has travelled the world, but ironically finds himself when he goes back home. I loved the characterisation of Will; he was such a fresh, believable character, that grabbed my attention from the first introduction, until the very end of the story. Likewise, Laurel was a very passionate, beautiful soul, that I really wanted her to have a happy ending.Richards had done a wonderful job bringing the time and setting alive, well done!The Gingerbread House is a sit-down and finish book. It is well worth checking out. I Highly Recommend.

The opening of The Gingerbread House draws the reader in so gently it’s easy to find you’ve bought it and read several chapters when all you intended, intrigued by the title, was to “look inside”. Thomas is such a well-drawn teenager I’ve wondered many times since I reached the end if he broke one of his parents’ windows “by accident” more than once, he enjoyed his “banishment” to stay with his semi-hermit grandfather in the woods so much.Grandfather’s stories reveal the world as it was in early to mid-twentieth century, very different from the present and fascinating, complete with mystery and romance. Proof that historical fiction doesn’t have to be set too far back to create a unique story.

An ageing man tells a story to his grandson who is visiting for the summer in the 1950's. His wife has died and he is reminiscing about the past.Will Barton arrives back from Paris to take over his sister's printing press. Elizabeth is a cantankerous, unhappy woman and mother to two daughters; one a foundling. Her husband- Ulysses is a larger than life constant drinker and ne'er do well with a heart of gold.A wonderful portrayal of life in a close knit community during the early 1900's filled with quirky characters, intrigue and most of all the love story between Will (the grandfather) and Laurel, the beautiful and enigmatic seamstress. Lovely read.

As someone who has only recently in the past couple of years realised what a treasure trove the historical fiction genre is, I picked this one up after it was recommended to me. I loved it from start to finish. The story of a grandson wanting to know exactly how his grandfather and mother met is transported back through the grandfather's words and the story. It was well written and crafted and took me back to the 1900's where Will, a newspaperman, returns home after a long period in Europe. He speaks of easily falling in love on the train journey, and then the story delves into a romance, with added sparks of mystery, betrayal and finding the parents of a long forgotten orphan. It was excellent and I loved it. Recommended to all historical fiction fans!

The Gingerbread House is a lovely read with lyrical prose and expressive dialogue that brought the early 20th century to life. The characters are lifelike, complex and enjoyable to read about. This is a nostalgic, romantic read with some surprising revelations I didn't see coming.Although the book is presented as a series of vignettes, I think it is best read cover to cover in order to really understand and appreciate the characters and to be immersed in the period and location.

This story is set in the 1900's, and it's a story that is surrounded by nostalgia and love. A journalist returns home from Europe, and becomes obsessed with the local people and their stories. He also wants to take over the local newspaper, that his sister runs. Every character in this book, has their own story to tell.I initially was only going to read a few pages of this book, but got drawn into this fascinating story, and ended up reading over half of it in one go. The GingerBread House, by James Richard, is a very captivating read. I think a lot of readers could relate to some of the characters in this book. I would recommend this book to anyone.

It took me a while to get into this book, as the language and grammar took a little getting used to, not that is was incorrect, it was necessary for the story. It was an intriguing tale, but I did guess the conclusion way too early. However it was an enjoyable read and a change from many books I’ve read. For this reason, give it a try you won’t regret it.

This is one of them cosy books where you just want to curl up and read. It has some romance and a bit of mystery. I really enjoyed the read.