In 1899, Olympia is a 15 year old girl vacationing with her parents at their summer home in Fortune's Rocks, New Hampshire. Her family is well-to-do and her very protective father assumes personal responsibility for her education. Rather than let her go to school with other kids, Olympia's father assigns books for her to read and they discuss them together at home. At their summer home, her parents entertain a number of distinguished guests. Early in the summer, Olympia's father invites Dr. John Haskell to dinner. Haskell is there to help the poor factory workers of nearby Ely Falls. He is 41 and married to a beautiful and admirable woman. She visits him on the weekends with their four children, who range from 3 to 12 years of age.
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Immediately after they meet, Olympia and Haskell become obsessed with each other. They have an affair that summer, but it all comes to a terrible and dramatic end in August at a gala that Olympia's parents are holding at their house in honor of her 16th birthday.
In the aftermath of the break up, Olympia's parents whisk her back to their house in Boston, and she has no communication with Haskell. She soon learns that she is pregnant with his child. Her father insists that she give up the baby when it is born and forces her to attend a teacher's college. Olympia does as her father demands, but 3 years into her education at the college, she runs away and moves back into the house at Fortune's Rocks. By now, her father has forgiven her and feels remorse for how harshly he had treated her. She learns that her son was brought to the orphanage at Ely Falls, and hopes to get him back. She learns that he was given to foster parents and they are basically raising him like a son, but without having legally adopting him.
There is a big custody battle, at the end of which, Haskell reappears.
The review of this Book prepared by Jessica
In Fortune's Rocks, 15 year old Olympia Biddeford travels with her wealthy family to stay on Fortune's Rocks, a seawall in Boston. It is there, that she meets John Haskell, a well-known doctor and writer. John Haskell is 42 years of age, and married with a family. Yet he and Olympia cannot help themselves as they carry on a secret affair with one another.
Eventually as this story moves on, they become discovered and each must face painful consequences as a result of their romance together.
The review of this Book prepared by Boppy
At the turn of the century an affluent young woman falls in love and has an affair with a much older married man. They are discovered causing much heartache and exile for both. She subsequently bears a child who is taken from her at birth. Book continues with how the woman grows and adapts to what life has dealt her.
The review of this Book prepared by Barbara Ashworth
A young girl has an affair with a married man and becomes pregnant. She is forced to give up her child. She tries to find the identity of her little boy without her parents' permission.
The review of this Book prepared by Heather
