The Jewel of Gresham Green (The Gresham Chronicles #4) Paperback – August 1, 2008

I loved this book. It picks up with the Hollis-Phelps children all grown up. Aleda Hollis has convinced Squire Bartley to let her rent the games keeper's cottage so she can write in peace. But into her life and that of her family enters Mrs. Jewel Libby and her daughter, Becky. Jewel and Becky have come to Gresham to escape the lurking Mr. Dunstan and Aleda allows them to move in with her. Philip Hollis has become a surgeon and is called back to Gresham to take charge of his step father, Andrew's surgery. Philip's marriage is strained and his wife, Loretta is forced by her father to go to Gresham and make an effort to work it out with her husband. Squire Bartley has a stroke and his heir, Donald Gibbs descends on the manor like a vulture waiting for his prey to die. Lots of twists and turns. A wonderful read.

I can't figure out why I hadn't heard of Lawana Blackwell earlier. I am so glad I've discovered her books! I've read most all now and have really enjoyed every one of them, including this one. (My least favorite was the Maid of Mayfair, but it was still good.) The Gresham Green series, which this book is a part of, is great. A kinder, gentler time period is perfect for my reading choice. Her characters are always very well-developed and the stories very engaging. Her books are marketed as Christian fiction, but they don't smother a reader with the religious message. Rather, it's just incorporated into the stories. I found myself wanting to go to bed each night so I could find out what was happening in Gresham!

I love this series of books. This is my second time reading them. I love the descriptions, characters and story line. The author also has great research abilities. Thank you for accuracy and insight.

I liked this one about the best although since I read them all over a months period, I have forgotten some of the previous ones a bit. I love the characters like friends. I won't go on and on but just say that I love Lawana's style and would have read on but the series ended rather abruptly. I think giving a free one and then getting hooked for the rest is a slick sales trick but that's the way it is. I do recommend this series of four books for light winter reading. I enjoyed Jewel, the English seamstress and mother of Becky. The pedophile in the neighborhood scared the life out of me and I did not care for that idea but I guess that goes on everywhere in in every decade, sad! Her daughter Becky was SO well behaved that it got a bit tiring. Never a need to correct her made me feel like I was reading a fiction novel....OH! I was. Well, to those who contemplate this Gresham series.....you will have fun with them. Great character development.An added note: I should have liked a #5 to see what she would say about the newly revived relationship between Phillip and his Loretta, an upper cast girl turned nice after a month in Gresham and also the newlyweds, Gabriel Patterson, Phillips ex-school chum, and ex-housemaid Jewel of Birmingham, England. They would have been a cute couple with her being so petite and he the not-so-thin London writer. Happy she did not marry him off to Aleda, Julia's writer-daughter in Gipsy woods, for sure! Two writers in the same house. NOT!

Like the other books in this series (This is number 4.) The Jewel of Gresham Green is a delightful read. Gresham is a place I would love to live. The timeline has moved on from the other books but that is to be expected as time waits for no one. We see some of our favorite characters grow up and grow older. There is a bit of suspense and, of course, redemption, both written in such a manner as to feel natural to the plotline. I admit, though that I do wish there were more books in the series. My only complaint is the sheer amount of the book that is taken up reintroducing characters and explaining past events, but that is to be expected with the fourth in a series.

Great author and stories

These four books are about a village ( Gresham) and its people. The characters are well developed and no questions are left at the end- leaving you satisfied with the story and wishing for more. The plot rolls along gently, not too fast, not too slow... Themes are redemption, forgiveness, and of coarse, romance! If you enjoy Christian based, morally clean, period novels, than this series is for you!

After four years, I just finished reading this series for the second time. This series is hard to put down. The author weaves so many story lines within each book. There’s romance, intrigue, and reminders of days of old. You will love the quirky characters. Enjoy!

It was great to revisit the people of Gresham village again. Ms. Blackwell did not disappoint. My only wish was that one of my favourite characters was still around. (No spoilers) Is there another story to be told yet? I'm hoping for another sojourn in the quiet but interesting hamlet.

Loved loved loved all four books!!!!I will miss Gresham and all its people!Thank Lawana Blackwell for touching my heart.

I loved reading this series. From the first book to the fourth, I was enthralled with the characters, the scenery, descriptions, and dialogue. Lawana Blackwell's writing is captivating. It is so good that I must have more.

Not a book for everybody's taste in today's society. If you still like the old values, where there is no sex, no violence, just family life as it used to be before all the gadgets of modern world, with its ups and downs, then this is the book (series) for you. I loved it. Very relaxing and takes your mind away of your daily routine and problems.

Lawana Blackwell takes the reader through a wide range of perfectly normal emotions. She writes in a way that encourages the readers to pause and reflect on their own emotions, inter-actions, and behaviours. Truly inspirational and likewise entertaining read!