The Lost Girls of Devon

Barbara O’Neal is my new favorite author. I adore the fresh truth of her books; her understanding of a woman’s heart. It is so refreshing to read her stories, her people, interwoven through the joys, the hopes, the fears, the disappointments, the grief, the loss and loneliness, the healing, the forgiveness, the love, and finally, the acceptance of the failings we all share. I love the way she brings romance into her stories - not as the main focus, but as the sweet and gentle thing that it is. For while it may be the spark of chemistry that first grabs us, it is the constant road we travel with our lover that leads us through all the difficult, yet precious things that make up our lives together until one day we glance in the mirror and wonder how we could possibly have gotten this old, this quick. And we sigh and realize that, throughout the years, we have ceased to linger in the passion of youth and simply rest in the knowledge that time and love have made us soul mates and we are exactly where we want to be. Ms O’Neal gives us this with her stories. It is a gift! Whether you are a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a wife, or a combination of these, you will find snippets of yourself in her books. And you will be a better person for having read her beautiful stories. I highly recommend this book.

The Lost Girls of Devon by Barbara O'Neal is a truly captivating novel that chronicles the lives of four generations of women as they navigate through loss and betrayal. The characters are skillfully crafted, each with their own unique story, but all united by their deep desire to love and connect with one another. This book is a deeply personal exploration of past secrets, pain, and the power of forgiveness. Barbara O'Neal is a gifted writer who has a remarkable ability to create strong and relatable female characters. In this novel, she presents a moving portrait of women who must first learn to accept themselves before they can fully embrace the beauty and potential of those around them. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach read or a cozy escape on a rainy day, The Lost Girls of Devon is the perfect choice. This book is a beautifully written, emotionally rich tale that will keep you hooked until the very end. So, pick up a copy, settle in, and get ready to be transported on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. 4.5 stars

This book came to me at a point in my life when I needed many things -- all emotional. The characters, the interwoven stories, the great writing fulfilled many of these. It was a comfortable read. Each time I put it down I wanted more. The vocabulary, the grammar, the descriptions were all very well done. I can't wait to choose.my next read by Barbara O'Oneal.

Wow. What an emotional novel this was to read. There were small areas I’d rather weren’t so deeply explored, and the narrative was confusing until I got into the story. But what a necessary work that illuminates many issues we women have, universally. Definitely recommend it. It would make a great book club choice because it would be a forum for identifying issues and the ramifications of our collective choices.

Complicated, rewarding, frustrating, deeply emotional relationships that can hold a family together or treat them apart. Every relationship requires give and take to succeed. This story is beautiful. Each chapter alternates between the voices of the great grandmother, grandmother, mother, and daughter. Four generations of strong artistically talented women come together as one life nears the end and the other women are struggling in their lives. It's a scoop of magic, a bit of mystery, a sprinkle of wishing, and a lot of love.

Barbara O'Neal is an engaging writer. Her characters, her dialogue and descriptions are rich and enjoyable. I wish she would have enough faith in her abilities to write a good story, without feeling the need to overlay the ‘mystery’ element. In truth this book does not need this thin and insipid thread of mystery. It only distracts from the rich story of a woman and her family of women—her daughter who is holding her own secret, her ill grandmother who needs her--who raised her after her (now present) mother abandoned her-- and their interactions and attempts at reconciliation, with the added interest of a gorgeous former lover on the side…This was enough to satiate any reader. There was no need for anything beyond this. Though certainly a good mystery should be housed in a great story, that story should be tight and relevant to the mystery rather than take you for numerous walks down the garden path or across the moors or along a beach for pages and pages of—though lovely writing—information that has nothing to do with the mystery of the missing woman. This simply distracts and urges the reader to rush through these slower and beautifully written portions of the book (that truly deserve more attention), in order to discover the answers to this red herring mystery. I love a good mystery AND I love a good story with human conflict, interpersonal relationships unfolding in beautiful locations, with romance and flashbacks and inner workings of the protagonist. These are, however, two different genres. Stick with what you are good at, Barbara, and leave the mysteries to someone else.

I connected so much with this book. My favorite thing about it is the multigenerational aspect of 4 generations of women who are each their own kind of person. Lillian-strong resilient and tough is the example of wwII era. Suck up and just do what needs to be done but in the current time frame she is battling dementia. Poppy-a true persona from the hippies of the 60's and 70's. Do what you want to make you feel good, buck the system and live for the fun of living. In today's view you can see the final maturity and the cost of just taking life for your own pleasure. I struggled to see her rationally and in the end she was still my least favorite but real person. Zoe-I connected the most with Zoe and she is the true main character. The hurts inflicted by her mom in her youth carry through her life as an adult but not enough to damage her relationship with her daughter Isa or her gran Lillian. She came back to Devon to find a missing friend and this prompts the whole plot. Zoe-still an innocent youth and very damaged by social media and betrayal of her friends. She is the connecting link to the rest of her family in so many ways. Typical teenager but very mature for her age. I wish there was a book for Diana! Top shelf book for me and I will be reading again. I truly felt each person in a good and a bad way which I want in my favorite books. It made me think about myself and my family and how decisions don't affect just one person but how do we balance needs and wants and not hurt those we love by being selfish but also how to maintain our free will.

I loved the journey of this book and the character development. I felt connected to them in an emotional way. Predictable without being trite. It kept me wanting to read more!