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Charlotte Vale-Allen writing as Katharine Marlowe.The haunting story of successful young Emma Bellamy, newly widowed and struggling to redefine her personal and professional life in the absence of her husband.She is shaken when her husband's lawyer reveals that he has received an extremely suggestive letter--a letter signed by Emma herself -- which she has no recollection of writing. Her nightmare is only beginning.Soon it becomes clear that every important person in Emma's life has been the recipient of an alarmingly truthful missive from Emma -- letters that Emma swears she never wrote. Her world is turned inside out by the explosive reactions of her best friend, of her stepchildren, and of her business colleagues, all of which are amazed to learn what Emma really thinks of them.But Emma is the most surprised, and terrified, of all. ... Read more

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A childhood tragedy informs the life of a woman who is the successful mother of two daughters, but who cannot come to terms with the past and who cannot escape the shadow of her own mother.From Manhattan in the 50s to London in the 60s and 70s, Alyssa's choices and decisions are influenced by her divorced parents, by her powerful grandmother, by the two men in her life -- Andrew, the gentle and unassuming actor destined for great success, and Jeremy, the ferociously ambitious actor who is destined for success of another kind -- and, ultimately, by her own children.Alyssa feels compelled to live with the results of her choices, good and bad. But despite her best efforts, her childhood tragedy reverberates through to a second generation. Finally, ironically, through a series of losses, Alyssa realizes her right to choose and to altogether and successfully be herself.Charlotte Vale-Allen writing as Katharine Marlowe (reissue title) ... Read more

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Helen Kimbrough doesn't lead an ordinary life because she isn't an ordinary woman. Her relationship with her mother is the first of many strong bonds in Helen's life. Teddy, her first love, is the disillusionment of adolescence; Stu, her first husband, has to leave before their marriage really has a chance; and, Fraser, an extraordinary friend, wants to show Helen how close two women could be.

Through one of her students, the sad and disturbed Gena, Helen finally meets Norm, who isn't afraid to change his life and even his ideals for the sake of their relationship. And, in the end, he must, finally, surrender the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Decent first effort, but manages to have no setting...
Charlotte Vale Allen's first novel "Love Life' was a decent book.I admit from reading the first couple of pages, I thouhgt it would be a really bad novel, but Allen manages to make us care about Helen Kimborough and her mother Amanda, and later the best friend character that is a head teacher, the first husband who sacrifaces himself for his country, and Helen's love of her life, Norm and his daughter Gena.This book really does take us through Helen's turbulent life, but manages to make us wonder where this is taking place.As far as I know, it's Northeastern U.S, in some place named Port Zebulon, but other than that..no feel for really where this is.That really killed it for me.Otherwise, I would have ranked this higher. ... Read more

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Isabel finally has it all: a rising career as a TV producer, a warm relationship with Marshall, the man who wants to marry her, and a tenuous rapport with her rebellious teenage daughter, Denny. But in the blink of an eye, everything changes.When Denny Runs away, Isabel's world falls apart. Marshall is incapable of understanding her anguish over her daughter's disappearance, and just when she needs him most, he, too, runs away.Alone, Isabel must deal with the mounting pressures of a competitively cutthroat job, her anxiety over Denny's whereabouts, and the mysterious appearance of Brian-who could be her salvation, if only she can trust him not to betray her.Charlotte Vale-Allen "is at the top of her form here, writing with great sensitivity." - Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A very good start
This is my 10th book by Ms Charlotte and it was written in 1977 so is dated thereby.It is hard to believe that Denny was so turned off by her loving Mother for no reason that I could figure.Maybe life in 1977 was badder than in 2002.The scene where Isabel goes to the house, hoping to find her daughter, is horrendous.The last page or so was weak when Mother and daughter come together.Forgive me, Charlotte, if you ever see this.I love your work and you have really grown since 77. ... Read more

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Synopsis"When Kyra Latimer loses her husband to a freak accident in Manhattan, she can't absorb the fact of his absence and can't imagine how she'll be able to move into the future without him. But on the day of his funeral, the unimaginable happens." "A young woman, with a small boy in tow, shows up at Kyra's home, claiming to be the child Kyra surrendered for adoption some twenty-odd years before. Refusing to accept the truth - that she cannot possibly be Kyra's child - Jennifer Cullen insists on leaving her three-year-old son, Jesse, with his "grandmother." If Kyra won't take the boy, Jennifer is going to turn him over to Children's Aid." "Touched by the boy's visible neglect, and as deaf to reason in her own way as Jennifer is in hers, Kyra agrees to keep Jesse. Kyra and Jesse flourish and founder in unanticipated ways. Until, finally, Kyra is forced to confront an impossible choice: whether or not to honor the life-or-death decision of her adopted son. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

A Beautiful Touching Story of a Mother's Love!
Kyra Latimer lost her husband to a freak accident in Manhattan. She is in deep shock and cannot imagine how she will ever cope without the husband she loved so much. Now their plans for adopting a child would be gone forever. Until one day.

A young woman appears out of the blue with a small boy in town. She says that she was the child Kyra gave up years ago, and that she is Jesse's grandmother. Kyra knows this isn't true at all, yet seeing the obvious neglect of the boy pulled at her heartstrings. Kyra agrees to keep Jesse then-and takes on an instant role as his mother.

Jesse is no ordinary child as it turns out though, and Kyra no ordinary mom. Jesse becomes ill later on with the worst possible challenge-kidney failure. It is then that Kyra is forced to confront an impossible choice, and that is whether to honor her son's decision on not receiving medical treatment to save his life.

A VERY absorbing book. I enjoyed every moment of reading it.

Mixed view
This is the first book by this author that I've read. I have mixed feelings about it. It took place in London, my favorite city, but I had a couple of problems with the plot.

It seems unbelievable that Kyra never told her twin brother, Kyle, the circumstances of Jesse's adoption at the time it happened.

Mentions of Kyra's weight became boring.I don't think it needed to be brought up as often as it was.

The ending was a surprise and completely unexpected. I re-read the last few chapters this morning just to be sure I got it right. I think I'll give it some time and read again.

Disappointed
This was my 8th and last Charlotte Vale Allen book. My sister is a devoted fan of Ms. Vale Allen's works, and I've tried to share her love of Ms. Allen's plotting and characterazations. However, Ms. Vale Allen's improbable views towards parenting and the role that parents play in the lives of their children, leave much to be desired.

Yes, there are flawed parents out there, and children who are far wiser than their family units. I'm all for realism in literature, but in eight novels, read at random, all with the protagonist being a potential victim of at the hands of a "stupid" mother and a "brilliant but psychotic" father; I'd have to say enough already!

Parting Gifts: the gift of a moving book
Charlotte Vale Allen engages the reader of Parting Gifts with a moving tale of the profits and losses of love.A family drama set mostly in late twentieth century London, Parting Gifts involves a theatrical extended family.Kyra, a large woman with a heart to match, first loses her pilot husband of 10 years in a hit-and-run accident outside their New York apartment.While she is mourning his loss, a young woman arrives on her doorstep with her "grandchild".Unable to have children, but anxious to build a family, Kyra adopts Jesse.Her three-year old son is temporarily mute, the victim of abuse and neglect.Kyra and Jesse move to London to welcome the support of her actress mother; director father; and twin actor brother.Kyra's costume design career flourishes as her son blossoms as a budding writer--published at age twelve.Allen involves the reader with the conflicts of a loving family and avoids the standard platitudes of love lost, while dealing with issues of abuse, death and serious illness.One hopes that this novel is not Allen's Parting Gifts for readers eager for more well-written tomes.

Everyone's a critic
It fascinated me to see the negative reviews that complain angrily about the ending of this book. What seems obvious from these angry negatives is that these amateur reviewers are people who would insist on making their children's decisions, without regard for the wishes of the children. What is distinctive, always, about Allen's writing is that she's prepared to take risks that other, more commercial writers, would never dream of trying. She invariably has her characters behave in ways that are faithful to the narrative she has structured. Parting Gifts is a grown-up book that deals with grown-up issues: of the lasting effects of child abuse (which, as a former victim, she knows all too well), of the fears and concerns common to so many women, and, always, of the conflicts between mothers and daughters as well as the tangled ties that bind them together. This is a richly rewarding book, heartfelt and affecting, and well worth reading. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Charlotte Vale Allen, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 1864 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

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Raised by a mother who was forever unlucky in love, Alyssa is certain she will inherit her mother's fate, and she sets out to find happiness, searching for love in ambitious actor Jeremy, dangerous Nicholas, and jet-setting Andrew. Reprint. LJ. ... Read more

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A school teacher's life starts to slide out of control as someone begins vandalizing her home and possessions. ... Read more

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After the death of her sister Faye, Louise tries to escape her painful memories, and leaving her family and friends behind her, she heads for London. Here she tries to build a new life for herself, absorbing herself in work until she sees her chance for happiness and lays her ghost to rest. ... Read more