Sebastian's family had some connection to Emilie's chateau and vineyard, and the winemakers on the estate knew what that connection was. The account of the important family connection is revealed through Constance's life during WWII and her connection to the de la Martinieries' family. But, did Sebastian suddenly appear and help Emilie because of the family connection or because he was interested in the valuable paintings inside her estates and most of all her family inheritance? La Côte d’Azur, 1998: In the sun-dappled south of France, Emilie de la Martinières, the last of her gilded line, inherits her childhood home, a magnificent château and vineyard. With the property comes a mountain of debt—and almost as many questions . . . The incredible bravery of the SOE, the Resistance and the ordinary French men and women is movingly told; I'm a Brit used to war stories told from home soil and am ashamed to say how little I know about day to day occupied France. That's not to say this is a gritty war book though, far from it. There are some tense moments, but they're dealt with 'nicely' with only hints of the horrors that happen off-screen. The main body of this book is how the long-lost secrets of the past affect the future generations. This one is classified as historical fiction and that it is. I have no qualms with that. However, that’s probably my only non-objection to this one. Lucinda Riley attempts to interweave the stories of Emilie de la Martinières, a young French woman who recently inherited a vast fortune after her mother’s death, and Constance Carruthers, a young English woman who was sent to France during World War II as a special operative. Riley then tells the reader how these two women, decades apart, are intertwined. The potential this story had was immense but unfortunately it remains just that - potential. Constance makes for a believable heroine and a steady pair of eyes through which to see the de la Martinieres and the events that unfold, and it was hard not to feel for her as she got so caught up in their affairs. Emilie, although not as immediately likable as Constance, grows as a character and it is interesting to watch her mature. Riley also has a whole host of other characters, most of whom are well portrayed, particularly Edouard, Sophia and Frederik in the past story. There is also a certain character from Riley's previous book Hothouse Flower who makes for a welcome presence. Falk is perhaps a little too caricature, however, makes for a dangerous presence in the story. In the modern day I felt it was rather too easy to see through Sebastian's character and Alex, although immensely likable, seemed altogether too forgiving and victim. Perhaps for this reason parts of the modern day story did seem a little cliche and not entirely convincing.

The detail is extraordinary - a superb history lesson. She's a wonderful storyteller. This is another really exciting, gripping story. I've got all her books. A little slow to initially get going, the story soon builds pace, particularly when we start to follow Constance's story. The parts set in war time France are fraught with an atmosphere of tension and danger, and are a gripping read, especially the sections with the Germans to hand. The parts set in modern day Yorkshire also have a strong sense of setting and contrast well to the warm and ripe vineyards of the south of France. Forced to surrender her identity and all ties to her homeland, Constance finds herself drawn into a complex web of deception, the repercussions of which will affect generations to come . . . This is by far my favorite Lucinda Riley book. I loved her detail about the French and English countryside and absolutely loved the specifics of the ancestry of Emilee's family. Digging into a family's history is my favorite historical thing to do. The ending is wonderful. A fast-paced, suspenseful story flitting between the present day and World War II . . . Riley expertly weaves Emilie’s story into a dual narrative . . . A real old-fashioned romance which manages to have a compelling narrative as well as something of a history lesson in the Special Operations Executive. Brilliant escapismBut predictability of plot can be okay if you are interested in the characters. Which was my second issue. In particulare Emilie, the main protagonist in the modern-day story, drove me mad. She is the daughter of an aristocratic family, whose socialite mother was totally uninterested in her. The mother dies at the start and Emilie, who has 'rebelled' by abandoning the social life and becoming a vet, is left with a huge chateau on her hands. You'd think someone who has worked hard enough and single-mindedly enough to have such a career would have a bit of gumption, but Emilie seemed to me to have absolutely none. She dithers and she swithers. When her mother's dog is run over, she actually has to consult another vet! She seems to think she can only practice in Paris, and that any move to any other part or France or any other country must mean she gives up her career (the one she's worked so hard to succeed at) and frankly, when she met her Nemesis (and anyone but Emilie would have known right from the start that's what he was) I thought she deserved all she got. The Light Behind The Window is in my opinion Riley's best work to date, each of her books I think showing her improving skill as an author. Like her previous books, there are two interconnecting stories which are intricately and skillfully woven together, both of which are engaging and the balance between them is just right.

Emilie de la Martinieres is the sole surviving member of her family and is left with a chateau with vineyards and another home in Paris. Both homes are filled with memories and contents worth millions. But, the millions won't be Emile's because of the debt her mother mounted over the years. Emilie needs to decide if she should sell or keep the chateau. She never had to deal with finances and was doing it alone until a complete stranger, Sebastian, came on the scene. You may be right. It's only coffee. So let's also talk about forged identity papers. Based on this book I'd assume 90% of citizens in France during the war had forged papers. Need new papers? Your local aristocrat can have them whipped up overnight! Don't know any aristocrats? Head to the nearest cottage; the peasantry can meet the same deadline for half the price! (I am assuming on the price thing; money is never mentioned and it's never hard for anyone to obtain anything in this book.) Booklist A fast-paced, suspenseful story flitting between the present day and World War II . . . Riley expertly weaves Emilie's story into a dual narrative . . . A real old-fashioned romance which manages to have a compelling narrative as well as something of a history lesson in the Special Operations Executive. Brilliant escapismIn collaboration with her son Harry Whittaker, she also devised and wrote a series of books for children called The Guardian Angels. I don't understand why so many people seem to want to write books about women in SOE that in fact aren't about what women in SOE did. Or at least, I thought this would be about a woman in SOE (along with a related story set in the more or less present day), but apparently it wanted to be a soapy drama. Which could have been okay, except that it was so clunky and flat. Emilie de la Martinieres is there when her glamorous mother draws her final breath. As the end comes, Emilie realises what a task she now has to face, as the sole remaining heir she has to sort a flat in Paris, her mother's jewels and other remnants of her famous and glamorous life as well as the Chateau in the south of France, which her mother hated, but Emilie loved as a child when her father was alive. The characters in The Light Behind The Window are exceptional, I became very emotionally involved with them, especially Emilie and Constance. I thought that they were such fantastically written characters. Constance in particular showed such courage and strength in the story and it touched my heart, I really enjoyed reading her part of the story and her journey was a very emotional one. Lucinda Riley has not only created two outstanding main characters, but has excelled in her supporting cast, Sebastian and Alex really stood out for me in that category, not forgetting Sophia as well.

The detailed descriptions of the castle, the French society during WWII, the hint of mystery about the de la Martinieries' history, and the current-day love story make this book another amazing, mesmerizing, and fantastic Lucinda Riley novel. Riley is talented ... will appeal to fans of historical fiction, Kate Morton, and Helen Bryan" Booklist A sweeping, engrossing work. Riley is talented, delighting in the small details of aristocratic luxury and the pastoral countryside . . . The heroines of [The Light Behind the Window] struggle to master circumstances seemingly beyond their control, a common thread in Riley’s work. A tale of family secrets, wartime espionage, and loyalties gained and gambled, The Lavender Garden will appeal to fans of historical fiction, Kate Morton, and Helen BryanAnd the husband: Still can't figure out why he married her. I mean, if it was just "her money" that'd be one thing. But we're told it was to steal a specific book. For money. But the book isn't really THAT valuable, comparatively. I mean, it's a ton of money to me, but in context it isn't. I don't think so, anyway, because our novel isn't actually sure how much this MacGuffin is worth. It's not even the most valuable book in the chateau's library. There were plenty of other objects he could have stolen, since Emilie didn't even know what she owned. The book trots this "steal one specific book" explanation out at the end and even tries to lampshade it but it just doesn't make sense.