Reader Reviews


“Lynne Golding knows how to tell a story. With yarns she gathered at her great aunt’s knee, she has woven a compelling story that harkens back to a time of pre-war innocence in a town I’ve always been proud to call my own.”
— Former Ontario Premier The Honorable William G. Davis

“Lynne Golding has opened a magical door to the past and ushered us into Edwardian Brampton to marvel at a simpler time when family loyalty was strong and community meant everything. When gathering for a clan portrait was an anxious ordeal; a picnic by the river was keenly anticipated; when quarantine struck fear in one’s heart; and secrets were left locked away in the family cupboards. Golding’s writing is solid and creative; her historical detail is authentic and meticulously researched. Her cast of beautifully-described characters leap from the pages — from the young, innocent protagonist, Jessie Stephens, trying to understand her world and those in it, to her eccentric and fascinating Aunt Lil who is as real and beloved as your best friend. They will make you laugh and weep and wonder, and be fondly remembered long after the final pages are read.”
– Cheryl Cooper, author of the Seasons of War series

“It’s easy to forget that everything about the roads we drive, the hydro and water to our homes, the schools and health care we need, comes from the cradle of community. This book is a journey back in time to what was needed for building a future that cares for many thousands for decades to come. Through a fascinating family, Lynne Golding’s novel leads us into the past in a whimsical way that can’t help but connect to our own ambitions.”
– Lorna Dueck, CEO, Crossroads Global Media Group