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The Lost and Found Necklace
Jess has always loved taking chances, but after a terrible accident, she's ready for a quieter life. No more unsuitable boyfriends or unsafe adventures. More time with Tim, her dependable boyfriend who seldom surprises her. More time with family, like her ailing grandmother, Nancy, who wants Jess to bring home the lost vintage necklace that has been in their family for generations. The delicate moonstone pendant features a fluttering butterfly, and some say it has a history of leading its wearer to her soul mate. Jess isn't sure about that, but the necklace belongs to the Taylor women, and she's determined to bring it home. All Jess has to do is bid on it at a local auction. But when a rival bidder outplays her and sweeps the necklace off the table, Jess finds herself face-to-face with a charming stranger who has his own reasons for wanting the necklace. He might be willing to part with it, if Jess will have dinner with him . . . Desperate to bring back the necklace before her grandmother's health gets worse, Jess has no choice, even if her boyfriend objects. She has to bring the necklace home, no matter what it does to her own happily ever after . . .
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 13, 2021
89 people are currently reading
3,562 people want to read
About the author
Louisa Leaman
17books49followersLouisa Leaman is a writer and behaviour expert based in London UK.
In 2004 she won a writing competition in the Times Educational Supplement. This led to a publishing deal with Continuum International Publishing. She has since had four books published. The latest, The Dictionary of Disruption, was published in May 2007.
They are all on the subject of behaviour management in education.
-Wikipedia
In 2004 she won a writing competition in the Times Educational Supplement. This led to a publishing deal with Continuum International Publishing. She has since had four books published. The latest, The Dictionary of Disruption, was published in May 2007.
They are all on the subject of behaviour management in education.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
July 8, 2021
An antique art deco necklace that is passed down through five generations is the centerpiece of this novel. I loved learning about the five women who wore the necklace beginning with Minnie the designer. Through the generations it is worn by Anna, Nancy, and Carmen. Somehow it was lost after Carmen's unexpected passing and now her daughter Jess is determined to recover it for grandmother Nancy. Each woman's story is set against a historically significant backdrop giving us the opportunity to learn more about that time and place. As a bonus there are two men who vie for Jess's affections. Will she stay with her steady beau, Tim, or begin a new relationship with the fascinating Guy? Is it true that the necklace has helped each woman in the Taylor family find their true love and will it do the same for Jess? Includes a reading group guide and author interview.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2024
This was all over the place. I thought the necklace plotline would be more interesting. Jess certainly wasn't. Nor were either of her men.
📖 Thank you to ŷ and Sourcebooks Landmark
📖 Thank you to ŷ and Sourcebooks Landmark
June 5, 2021
This is my second book by Louisa Leaman (The Perfect Dress) and I’m a big fan now. Sweet, charming, with an antique piece at its heart called the True Love Necklace that reveals one’s soul mate when worn. I was truly invested in the characters: Jess, recovering from a sky diving accident who has bad luck with men; her dying grandmother Nancy; Jess� dull beau Tim, and Guy, a livelier possibility.
The well-written narrative drew me in � I just HAD to know who Jess would end up with � and the family relationship history was genuinely intriguing. A great romantic escape!
Pub Date 13 Jul 2021
#TheLostAndFoundNecklace #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
The well-written narrative drew me in � I just HAD to know who Jess would end up with � and the family relationship history was genuinely intriguing. A great romantic escape!
Pub Date 13 Jul 2021
#TheLostAndFoundNecklace #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
August 25, 2021
⭐⭐� -- Mixed bag
This one was okay. I enjoyed all the jewelry stuff and the history of her family's art nouveau butterfly necklace. However, none of the characters were particularly likable. The romance lacked any genuine excitement. In fact, I didn't like either Guy or Tim and would have loved to have seen Jess tell the whole lot of them to go (insert swear word) and get her own life back on track. 🤷🏻♀� So yeah, a mixed bag indeed.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
This one was okay. I enjoyed all the jewelry stuff and the history of her family's art nouveau butterfly necklace. However, none of the characters were particularly likable. The romance lacked any genuine excitement. In fact, I didn't like either Guy or Tim and would have loved to have seen Jess tell the whole lot of them to go (insert swear word) and get her own life back on track. 🤷🏻♀� So yeah, a mixed bag indeed.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
September 30, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, I am not 100% sure what made me request this one but I am very glad I did...The book's main character is on a quest to find a necklace for her dying grandmother. It has been in her family for many years and is believed to help the person that is wearing it find her soulmate. After many attempts, Jess finally finds it at an auction but loses out to another bidder...which leads her to go to said bidder and try to convince him to let her buy it from him so she can fulfill her grandmother's dying request. As she begins to learn about the history of the necklace,she is sent on another journey to try and uncover some family secrets and along the way, she learns a lot about herself. This was a really fun book to read but I will admit it took a tiny bit of time to really get into the storyline and learn who everyone was...
January 8, 2021
I have many pieces of costume jewellery & love how it can transform the simplest of outfits into something else 📿💍
I love books that delve into family history & how it can still impact on present day events. This was one of those that had me enchanted from page one & I couldn't put it down. I loved the relationship Jess has with her Grandmother as it was not dissimilar to the relationship I had with mine.
Do you believe in love at first sight? 💖
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 � 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
I love books that delve into family history & how it can still impact on present day events. This was one of those that had me enchanted from page one & I couldn't put it down. I loved the relationship Jess has with her Grandmother as it was not dissimilar to the relationship I had with mine.
Do you believe in love at first sight? 💖
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 � 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
January 6, 2023
If you're going to read this one, I highly suggest the audiobook! The narrator (Teri Barrington) did a fantastic job. The story was good, too!
Following Jess on a search for a family heirloom, a necklace said to connect you to your soulmate, her hunt gets interrupted when it lands in the hands of a charming man at an auction.
With both Jess and Guy having a passion for jewelry, I really loved how the history of the necklace and its wearers was woven into the story. It was so intricate and immersive!
Along her journey, Jess finds herself contemplating what she wants in life. Or shall I say, who she wants in life. After an accident that left her now requiring a cane, Jess enjoys her quiet life with boyfriend Tim. But then there's Guy, the man who represents an adventure she might not be ready for again ...
I was definitely team Jess and happy with her choice, but I didn't particularly connect with either Tim or Guy. I loved the treasure hunting aspect of this story, and the heavy focus on family, but the romance was simply ok for me!
(heat level: closed door)
Following Jess on a search for a family heirloom, a necklace said to connect you to your soulmate, her hunt gets interrupted when it lands in the hands of a charming man at an auction.
With both Jess and Guy having a passion for jewelry, I really loved how the history of the necklace and its wearers was woven into the story. It was so intricate and immersive!
Along her journey, Jess finds herself contemplating what she wants in life. Or shall I say, who she wants in life. After an accident that left her now requiring a cane, Jess enjoys her quiet life with boyfriend Tim. But then there's Guy, the man who represents an adventure she might not be ready for again ...
I was definitely team Jess and happy with her choice, but I didn't particularly connect with either Tim or Guy. I loved the treasure hunting aspect of this story, and the heavy focus on family, but the romance was simply ok for me!
(heat level: closed door)
July 29, 2021
The message in this book is to stay true to yourself. At least that is what I took away from this story.
The book follows Jess and her quest for a necklace that her dying grandmother has asked her to find. It was made by her grandmother and they believe it is the necklace of true love, that whoever wears it will find their soulmate. Jess is lucky and finds it at an auction but loses out to another bidder. The story takes an interesting twist and Jess does her best to convince the winner to sell it to her without much luck. However, as she delves deeper into the history of the necklace, it sends her on another journey to uncover her family's past and she learns much about her ancestors and herself in the process.
This was a fun book to read and watching Jess evolve from an injured woman to one that embraces life once again. It takes about 1/3 of the book to find out why she had to walk with a cane and once you do, there is another look into Jess' life and who she might really be and not who is portrayed initially. Is her relationship with Tim really the one she is meant to be in or is there someone better out there waiting for her? You'll have to read the book to find out.
Overall, we give it 4 paws up.
The book follows Jess and her quest for a necklace that her dying grandmother has asked her to find. It was made by her grandmother and they believe it is the necklace of true love, that whoever wears it will find their soulmate. Jess is lucky and finds it at an auction but loses out to another bidder. The story takes an interesting twist and Jess does her best to convince the winner to sell it to her without much luck. However, as she delves deeper into the history of the necklace, it sends her on another journey to uncover her family's past and she learns much about her ancestors and herself in the process.
This was a fun book to read and watching Jess evolve from an injured woman to one that embraces life once again. It takes about 1/3 of the book to find out why she had to walk with a cane and once you do, there is another look into Jess' life and who she might really be and not who is portrayed initially. Is her relationship with Tim really the one she is meant to be in or is there someone better out there waiting for her? You'll have to read the book to find out.
Overall, we give it 4 paws up.
November 8, 2021
It's a sweet story that has you rooting for the return of the necklace and everyone's happiness ;)
December 3, 2020
Meant to Be is a good comfort story. It's a nice escape to curl up with. The pace is relaxing and digestible, the tone is warm and inviting, but the overall story isn't that memorable.
Jess is a jewellery lover living in London. She has hopes of owning her own business one day, but it seems more like an impossibility in the eyes of her sister and her incredibly basic boyfriend, Tim. While hunting for a precious necklace for her declining grandmother, she meets Guy, who manages to snatch up the necklace before her. And in order to get it back, she has to spend time with this charming and mysterious stranger.
The novel dives deep into Jess� family history, which is a really nice layer on top of the romance and adventure. While there’s a lot of focus on gaining ownership of the necklace, Jess is also struggling with the idea of a predetermined “happily ever after�. Every voice around her is telling her to grow up and settle down, even if it means putting her dreams on hold. The necklace has a special place in her heart, and that’s evident from the beginning of the story. And in searching for the truth about her ancestry, she starts to realise the truth about herself.
When it comes to the romance, Jess� easy back-and-forth with Guy compared to her stale chats with Tim make it easy to figure out which couple the reader is supposed to root for. However, I didn’t care for either. I occasionally found Jess to be a little narrow-minded or immature, Guy was frustrating and selfish, and Tim was just� there. The sparks were lacking, and the history became more thrilling that the present.
Meant to Be’s premise is interesting and it makes for pleasant reading, but both the romance and the self-discovery lacked excitement. While the journey to finding a family heirloom is interesting, the rest of the story struggled to hold my attention.
For more book reviews and posts, check out or follow along on 📚�
Jess is a jewellery lover living in London. She has hopes of owning her own business one day, but it seems more like an impossibility in the eyes of her sister and her incredibly basic boyfriend, Tim. While hunting for a precious necklace for her declining grandmother, she meets Guy, who manages to snatch up the necklace before her. And in order to get it back, she has to spend time with this charming and mysterious stranger.
The novel dives deep into Jess� family history, which is a really nice layer on top of the romance and adventure. While there’s a lot of focus on gaining ownership of the necklace, Jess is also struggling with the idea of a predetermined “happily ever after�. Every voice around her is telling her to grow up and settle down, even if it means putting her dreams on hold. The necklace has a special place in her heart, and that’s evident from the beginning of the story. And in searching for the truth about her ancestry, she starts to realise the truth about herself.
When it comes to the romance, Jess� easy back-and-forth with Guy compared to her stale chats with Tim make it easy to figure out which couple the reader is supposed to root for. However, I didn’t care for either. I occasionally found Jess to be a little narrow-minded or immature, Guy was frustrating and selfish, and Tim was just� there. The sparks were lacking, and the history became more thrilling that the present.
Meant to Be’s premise is interesting and it makes for pleasant reading, but both the romance and the self-discovery lacked excitement. While the journey to finding a family heirloom is interesting, the rest of the story struggled to hold my attention.
For more book reviews and posts, check out or follow along on 📚�
December 12, 2020
My thanks to Random House U.K./Transworld Digital for an invitation to read and review, via NetGalley, ‘Meant To Be� by Louisa Leaman.
Last year I had read and enjoyed her debut novel, ‘The Perfect Dress�, and was aware of her writing for the Victoria and Albert Museum. So know that she is knowledgeable on the subject of vintage fashion, including jewellery. ‘Meant To Be� focuses upon a unique silver Art Nouveau necklace. Its USA title will be ‘The Lost and Found Necklace�.
Jess has had a run of terrible boyfriends and is also still recovering from an accident that happened in Mexico while backpacking with her then boyfriend, who was an extreme sports instructor. She now seeks a quieter life and has found Tim, a teacher who is loyal and dependable, though occasionally a bit dull.
Her grandmother, whose health is fading, has tasked Jess with retrieving a family heirloom: the above mentioned necklace. Jess has her own small jewellery business and so knows where to look. Then after months of searching she discovers that the necklace is coming up for auction. Yet on the day she is outbid by a charming stranger, Guy, himself an antique jewellery dealer.
Jess tries to buy it from him but he convinces her to go on a date with him in order to put forward her case. She agrees though is adamant that she is only going in order to obtain the necklace. Oh Jess...
This was a charming romantic comedy that also involved Jess seeking out the history of the necklace that had been designed by Minnie, her great, great-grandmother, in the early years of the 20th Century. It was known in the family as the True Love Necklace as it was believed that everyone who wore it found their soul mate. It is also a novel about family and the connections between the generations.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It was sweet yet not sentimental. There were also serious themes such as Jess� coming to terms with the changes in her life post accident as well as her grandmother’s decline.
Overall, a lovely book that offered a few hours of escapism.
Last year I had read and enjoyed her debut novel, ‘The Perfect Dress�, and was aware of her writing for the Victoria and Albert Museum. So know that she is knowledgeable on the subject of vintage fashion, including jewellery. ‘Meant To Be� focuses upon a unique silver Art Nouveau necklace. Its USA title will be ‘The Lost and Found Necklace�.
Jess has had a run of terrible boyfriends and is also still recovering from an accident that happened in Mexico while backpacking with her then boyfriend, who was an extreme sports instructor. She now seeks a quieter life and has found Tim, a teacher who is loyal and dependable, though occasionally a bit dull.
Her grandmother, whose health is fading, has tasked Jess with retrieving a family heirloom: the above mentioned necklace. Jess has her own small jewellery business and so knows where to look. Then after months of searching she discovers that the necklace is coming up for auction. Yet on the day she is outbid by a charming stranger, Guy, himself an antique jewellery dealer.
Jess tries to buy it from him but he convinces her to go on a date with him in order to put forward her case. She agrees though is adamant that she is only going in order to obtain the necklace. Oh Jess...
This was a charming romantic comedy that also involved Jess seeking out the history of the necklace that had been designed by Minnie, her great, great-grandmother, in the early years of the 20th Century. It was known in the family as the True Love Necklace as it was believed that everyone who wore it found their soul mate. It is also a novel about family and the connections between the generations.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It was sweet yet not sentimental. There were also serious themes such as Jess� coming to terms with the changes in her life post accident as well as her grandmother’s decline.
Overall, a lovely book that offered a few hours of escapism.
February 7, 2022
I wish I could choose 3 and a half stars! It was a cute book, I really enjoyed learning about Jess's family history and following the path of the necklace through her family. Just a sweet little read.
The plot sounded really interesting, but something about the way it was written failed to engage me in the story. I didn't get the can't-put-it-down experience here.
A lot of the characters were pretty unlikable, too. Aggie, Jessica's sister is a terror right up until the end of the book, their dad is not a nice guy, and Jessica's decision-making skills are just so poor that I'm not really rooting for her at all. I also didn't really like or root for either of the boys she's "stuck" between, so I had a hard time caring about that part of the story arc. Mostly here for the historical and familial journey!
The plot sounded really interesting, but something about the way it was written failed to engage me in the story. I didn't get the can't-put-it-down experience here.
A lot of the characters were pretty unlikable, too. Aggie, Jessica's sister is a terror right up until the end of the book, their dad is not a nice guy, and Jessica's decision-making skills are just so poor that I'm not really rooting for her at all. I also didn't really like or root for either of the boys she's "stuck" between, so I had a hard time caring about that part of the story arc. Mostly here for the historical and familial journey!
July 13, 2024
A family heirloom necklace is exactly what Jess intends to purchasethrough an auction but when she gets pipped at the post by a man, Guy, she tries to make a deal with him in order to reunite the necklace with her grandmother who is on her deathbed.
This was an interesting romance though I say the word romance loosely as the main purpose of the story to me was more the background of the necklace and the way it traveled through the generations. The love story was minimal and I struggled to feel the connection between Jess and Guy. Overall it was an enjoyable read though.
This was an interesting romance though I say the word romance loosely as the main purpose of the story to me was more the background of the necklace and the way it traveled through the generations. The love story was minimal and I struggled to feel the connection between Jess and Guy. Overall it was an enjoyable read though.
January 24, 2022
Really enjoyed. I thought the story was different and was glad that Jess ended up being true to herself. I liked how Jess was able to find some answers to her family background. She sure covered a lot of territory in a short amount of time. I loved the ideas of older jewelry and history and family and love were woven throughout. It was really a fun read. My first book by this author. I will definitely be getting her earlier book to read.
May 7, 2023
A family heirloom leads to a quest which ends with an adventure and true love. Perfect!
January 29, 2022
personally it wasn’t for me but it wasn’t that bad
November 2, 2020
I did enjoy this romance story, it kept my attention throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story of Jess's maternal line, twines together and through with the butterfly necklace. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the jewellery and the Victoria and Albert Museum's jewellery halls, a place I love to get lost in too. I felt the story started really well but became a little obvious towards the end, it felt a little rushed.
The characters are well written and interesting, especially the stories of the previous generation. Jess is a likeable character and I understand her choices, however, they were a little obvious. Guy, the charming rake, and although very likeable he is a little annoying, as is her boyfriend Tim; they are both a little cliched.
This is the second book by Louisa Leaman, and although I think her debut novel was better than this one, with a stronger storyline, I did enjoy thoroughly it and would recommend it.
The characters are well written and interesting, especially the stories of the previous generation. Jess is a likeable character and I understand her choices, however, they were a little obvious. Guy, the charming rake, and although very likeable he is a little annoying, as is her boyfriend Tim; they are both a little cliched.
This is the second book by Louisa Leaman, and although I think her debut novel was better than this one, with a stronger storyline, I did enjoy thoroughly it and would recommend it.
July 17, 2021
"The Lost and Found Necklace"
by Louise Leaman
July 13, 2021
Sourcebooks
336 pages
Contemporary Fiction
Jess Taylor, nearing age thirty, and always one to walk on the wild side, is recovering from a horrendous accident that laid her up for almost a year. Now able to maneuver easily with a cane, she's determined to start taking things easy and stop taking risks.
She settles into everyday life, living with her sister Aggie, Aggie’s husband, and their children. She is content with her boyfriend Tim, an upright guy and someone dependable. After the heartaches she's been through, she decides she doesn’t need fireworks and sparks in a relationship. What matters now is considering marriage to Tim, maybe having a baby, and becoming closer with her family. Aggie tries her patience at times, reminding her of the losers she once dated. Loving her older sister and the closeness she shares with her niece, Steph, she decides to follow a more conventional lifestyle.
Jess's beloved grandmother, Nancy, lives in a care facility as her health and mind are failing. She enjoys talking about her past and the family history, ruminating about the vintage necklace her great-grandmother Minnie designed but went missing years ago.
This necklace contains a moonstone pendant with a butterfly and is branded with the superstition that it will bring the wearer their soulmate. Thinking about the soulmate prophecy, Jess likes that theory, but she believes Tim is the one.
Through a catalog, Jess discovers the item is being auctioned at a London auction house. She grabs her sensible older sister, Abbie, and heads to the there, determined to buy it and return it to Nancy before she passes away.
Though Jess sets a top price she will pay, she keeps getting outbid by a handsome young man, so she keeps upping the amount. She is determined not to let the precious item slip from her reach, and Aggie storms off in a huff when Jess surpasses her spending limit. Unfortunately, she loses the bid to the young man, so she follows him out the door and jumps into the taxi he hails.
Begging him to sell the piece to her, she states it belongs to her family after being lost many years ago. He offers it to her only if she agrees to have dinner with him. She adamantly refuses. Though she finds him charming, she will not betray or hurt Tim, who his first wife deceived. She must attain this for Nancy, and she will not disappoint her grandmother’s dying wish.
Jess flirts with the man who introduces himself as Guy van der Meer, hoping to gain his favor. He informs her his family owns a jewelry business, and his position is to locate and purchase particular items they can sell for profit. In his mind, he believes this is the perfect solution for his client, Stella Weston, a beautiful supermodel. Though . . . .
"A thought strikes his soul. The woman who accosted him in his taxi—Jess—she’d laid claim to this butterfly with such fire. Maybe it would look different on her? All that stuff about it being her family's heirloom . . . At first, he's shrugged it off, fixated on how much profit he could make selling the necklace to Stella, but what if the necklace knew better? Like Cinderella's slipper, what if it's only meant for one person? What, then, would that make him . . . Prince Charming?"
Guy, besotted with Jess, brushes off her claims of having a boyfriend. Does she genuinely love this man, or is she only saying this?
As Jess digs deep into her family history, she tries to learn all she can about Nancy, Anna, Nancy's mother, and Minnie, her great-great-grandmother. Though Jess trained as a teacher, she now earns her income refashioning vintage jewelry, which Aggie considers her "hobby business." Jess customizes unique pieces on order, and her items are not typical costume jewels or something mass produced. She realizes designing jewelry and not teaching is her passion.
Jess visits Nancy often, asking about her past and that of her great- and great-great-grandmothers. The information she receives cements her mission to retrieve the necklace from Guy.
Meanwhile, Aggie keeps reminding Jess of Nancy's imminent demise:
"'It's the natural and orderly way of things. She's had a long life, Jess. Eighty-two. That's really something. I know how much she means to you, but . . . it has to happen.'
"Jess can barely hear her sister's platitudes. All she can think of is the sadness on Nancy's face when she told her she'd failed to reclaim the necklace. Through her tears, staring over her sister's shoulder, she catches her reflection in the mirror and thinks of Nancy's words: We called it the True Love Necklace."
Jess's determination strengthens her to accomplish her goal and bring the treasured heirloom (a Taylor talisman) to Nancy as her last loving act toward her grandmother. On a trip to Los Angeles, she discovers more mysteries about her ancestors and circumstances that once were considered folly are fact. Though this expedition sets up enmity between her and Tim, nothing will stand in her way.
What matters most is Nancy, and as a last-ditch effort, she rings Guy insisting her get her the necklace if only to borrow for a short time until Nancy passes.
But what will this do to the future she and Tim are planning? Will Jess be true to herself and her desires, or will she disappoint her sister and fall back on her old ways? A chance at self-discovery for Jess is brought forth by the magic of an heirloom necklace in which she makes hurtful decisions, but is true to herself.
by Louise Leaman
July 13, 2021
Sourcebooks
336 pages
Contemporary Fiction
Jess Taylor, nearing age thirty, and always one to walk on the wild side, is recovering from a horrendous accident that laid her up for almost a year. Now able to maneuver easily with a cane, she's determined to start taking things easy and stop taking risks.
She settles into everyday life, living with her sister Aggie, Aggie’s husband, and their children. She is content with her boyfriend Tim, an upright guy and someone dependable. After the heartaches she's been through, she decides she doesn’t need fireworks and sparks in a relationship. What matters now is considering marriage to Tim, maybe having a baby, and becoming closer with her family. Aggie tries her patience at times, reminding her of the losers she once dated. Loving her older sister and the closeness she shares with her niece, Steph, she decides to follow a more conventional lifestyle.
Jess's beloved grandmother, Nancy, lives in a care facility as her health and mind are failing. She enjoys talking about her past and the family history, ruminating about the vintage necklace her great-grandmother Minnie designed but went missing years ago.
This necklace contains a moonstone pendant with a butterfly and is branded with the superstition that it will bring the wearer their soulmate. Thinking about the soulmate prophecy, Jess likes that theory, but she believes Tim is the one.
Through a catalog, Jess discovers the item is being auctioned at a London auction house. She grabs her sensible older sister, Abbie, and heads to the there, determined to buy it and return it to Nancy before she passes away.
Though Jess sets a top price she will pay, she keeps getting outbid by a handsome young man, so she keeps upping the amount. She is determined not to let the precious item slip from her reach, and Aggie storms off in a huff when Jess surpasses her spending limit. Unfortunately, she loses the bid to the young man, so she follows him out the door and jumps into the taxi he hails.
Begging him to sell the piece to her, she states it belongs to her family after being lost many years ago. He offers it to her only if she agrees to have dinner with him. She adamantly refuses. Though she finds him charming, she will not betray or hurt Tim, who his first wife deceived. She must attain this for Nancy, and she will not disappoint her grandmother’s dying wish.
Jess flirts with the man who introduces himself as Guy van der Meer, hoping to gain his favor. He informs her his family owns a jewelry business, and his position is to locate and purchase particular items they can sell for profit. In his mind, he believes this is the perfect solution for his client, Stella Weston, a beautiful supermodel. Though . . . .
"A thought strikes his soul. The woman who accosted him in his taxi—Jess—she’d laid claim to this butterfly with such fire. Maybe it would look different on her? All that stuff about it being her family's heirloom . . . At first, he's shrugged it off, fixated on how much profit he could make selling the necklace to Stella, but what if the necklace knew better? Like Cinderella's slipper, what if it's only meant for one person? What, then, would that make him . . . Prince Charming?"
Guy, besotted with Jess, brushes off her claims of having a boyfriend. Does she genuinely love this man, or is she only saying this?
As Jess digs deep into her family history, she tries to learn all she can about Nancy, Anna, Nancy's mother, and Minnie, her great-great-grandmother. Though Jess trained as a teacher, she now earns her income refashioning vintage jewelry, which Aggie considers her "hobby business." Jess customizes unique pieces on order, and her items are not typical costume jewels or something mass produced. She realizes designing jewelry and not teaching is her passion.
Jess visits Nancy often, asking about her past and that of her great- and great-great-grandmothers. The information she receives cements her mission to retrieve the necklace from Guy.
Meanwhile, Aggie keeps reminding Jess of Nancy's imminent demise:
"'It's the natural and orderly way of things. She's had a long life, Jess. Eighty-two. That's really something. I know how much she means to you, but . . . it has to happen.'
"Jess can barely hear her sister's platitudes. All she can think of is the sadness on Nancy's face when she told her she'd failed to reclaim the necklace. Through her tears, staring over her sister's shoulder, she catches her reflection in the mirror and thinks of Nancy's words: We called it the True Love Necklace."
Jess's determination strengthens her to accomplish her goal and bring the treasured heirloom (a Taylor talisman) to Nancy as her last loving act toward her grandmother. On a trip to Los Angeles, she discovers more mysteries about her ancestors and circumstances that once were considered folly are fact. Though this expedition sets up enmity between her and Tim, nothing will stand in her way.
What matters most is Nancy, and as a last-ditch effort, she rings Guy insisting her get her the necklace if only to borrow for a short time until Nancy passes.
But what will this do to the future she and Tim are planning? Will Jess be true to herself and her desires, or will she disappoint her sister and fall back on her old ways? A chance at self-discovery for Jess is brought forth by the magic of an heirloom necklace in which she makes hurtful decisions, but is true to herself.
January 15, 2022
Gosh this book was painful to get through. Found the characters dull and god I got sick to death of hearing about the bloody butterfly necklace.
This book might be good for someone on death row, with nothing better to do.
This book might be good for someone on death row, with nothing better to do.
August 9, 2021
story had a lot of promise but was written in a way that wasn't really engaging. i didn't really care about any of the characters and it was a lot of telling, not showing. DNF
December 24, 2022
DNF at 18 pages. Found it incredibly dull and cliché meeting between two MLs.
May 27, 2023
cute- Jess Taylor, almost 30, always ready for adventure, alluded to accident- problem with leg, lives with sis, Aggie Hoppit, bro-in-law, Ed, Steph-niece and Marcus - nephew, owns "Miss Taylor's Retro and Vintage Costume Jewelry" company-vintage jewelry
"comfy" boyfriend - Tim, his first wife cheated on him, he is applying for "safe" job at school, wants Jess to apply as well, cycles, rugby, puts deposit on new apartment for them, Jess IS attracted to him
looking for necklace created by her great-great gma Minnie years ago, comes up for auction, wants to retrieve it for her beloved gma, Nancy
necklace comes up for auction-outbid by small amount by Guy van der Meer (supposedly from jewelry family, wears gold leopard ring) Jess follows his cab, he gets her donuts and becomes slightly obsessed with her
J visits Snowdonia- finds pics of Nancy w/necklace by Paul Angel Photography 1954-J meets Bevan Floyd at Pel Twar-great-uncle was Emery Floyd, finds pics of Minnie wearing necklace, in love with Emery but hubs wouldn't grant divorce, given sketch book
J visits CA- Zedora, Jossop's Jewelry, Musso's-Guy meets her there, sparks but nothing happens
looks for Paul Angel Photography-15 yrs older than Anna, dau Carmen
Nancy going downhill, Jess meets Guy at party to talk about necklace -they eat together-she tells him about her accident, sky-diving in Mexico, parachute malfunction, hit flora instead of ground but much rehab, sis has helped her immensely
Jess meets up with Tim later-he's not exciting, she's wondering if she can be conventional
Jess meets Guy at Capital Gala, he takes necklace from owner, gives to Jess
Anna also buried near Nancy-next to Archie-met again late in life
Jess visits Nancy-Nancy gives Jess necklace to find her true love then passes away, Guy confesses his true identity-wants to be with Jess
Minnie's parents-accountant, house with 2 servants, mother accomplished viola player
Minnie- born 1881, had governess, bro who died of burst appendix, persuaded to marry Robert Belsing (jr accountant for her father's firm) moved to Paris, saw jewelry of Rene Lalique-art nouveau glasswork, art deco design, Minnie kept sketches-Hubs found-got upset, fed her bread and water, abusive, Minnie ran away to Pel Tawr-near Nancy's log cabin, pic of her with peacock
Floyd family wealthy-avid followers of William Morris, opened Pel Tawr as commune-type living for artists, Minnie dies there of typhoid
Anna- Minnie's daughter-Nancy's mother, 1930's film-set jewelry designer, Nancy really born in Hollywood, works for Jossop's of Hollywood, real love was Archie Jossop-nephew of owner, went to fight in WWII, Anna wrote to Archie June 1949 and February 1961- Archie left CA to go home to MD father sick, Christopher Roderick (Anna his beard, came out later, partner Bernard Almer) Zedora- mansion, moved back to London-poor, raised Carmen-wanted her to marry wealthy
Nancy- Jess's gma, now lives in care facility but was always adventurous-built her own log cabin in woods of Snowdonia
Carmen- Jess' mom, died young of stroke, raised by Anna b/c Nancy wanderlust
Richard- Jess' father, remarried, 2 new children, no relationship with daughters-pawned True Love necklace after Carmen died, Nancy furious
Richard says "Trust the necklace"
leaves with Gus
"comfy" boyfriend - Tim, his first wife cheated on him, he is applying for "safe" job at school, wants Jess to apply as well, cycles, rugby, puts deposit on new apartment for them, Jess IS attracted to him
looking for necklace created by her great-great gma Minnie years ago, comes up for auction, wants to retrieve it for her beloved gma, Nancy
necklace comes up for auction-outbid by small amount by Guy van der Meer (supposedly from jewelry family, wears gold leopard ring) Jess follows his cab, he gets her donuts and becomes slightly obsessed with her
J visits Snowdonia- finds pics of Nancy w/necklace by Paul Angel Photography 1954-J meets Bevan Floyd at Pel Twar-great-uncle was Emery Floyd, finds pics of Minnie wearing necklace, in love with Emery but hubs wouldn't grant divorce, given sketch book
J visits CA- Zedora, Jossop's Jewelry, Musso's-Guy meets her there, sparks but nothing happens
looks for Paul Angel Photography-15 yrs older than Anna, dau Carmen
Nancy going downhill, Jess meets Guy at party to talk about necklace -they eat together-she tells him about her accident, sky-diving in Mexico, parachute malfunction, hit flora instead of ground but much rehab, sis has helped her immensely
Jess meets up with Tim later-he's not exciting, she's wondering if she can be conventional
Jess meets Guy at Capital Gala, he takes necklace from owner, gives to Jess
Anna also buried near Nancy-next to Archie-met again late in life
Jess visits Nancy-Nancy gives Jess necklace to find her true love then passes away, Guy confesses his true identity-wants to be with Jess
Minnie's parents-accountant, house with 2 servants, mother accomplished viola player
Minnie- born 1881, had governess, bro who died of burst appendix, persuaded to marry Robert Belsing (jr accountant for her father's firm) moved to Paris, saw jewelry of Rene Lalique-art nouveau glasswork, art deco design, Minnie kept sketches-Hubs found-got upset, fed her bread and water, abusive, Minnie ran away to Pel Tawr-near Nancy's log cabin, pic of her with peacock
Floyd family wealthy-avid followers of William Morris, opened Pel Tawr as commune-type living for artists, Minnie dies there of typhoid
Anna- Minnie's daughter-Nancy's mother, 1930's film-set jewelry designer, Nancy really born in Hollywood, works for Jossop's of Hollywood, real love was Archie Jossop-nephew of owner, went to fight in WWII, Anna wrote to Archie June 1949 and February 1961- Archie left CA to go home to MD father sick, Christopher Roderick (Anna his beard, came out later, partner Bernard Almer) Zedora- mansion, moved back to London-poor, raised Carmen-wanted her to marry wealthy
Nancy- Jess's gma, now lives in care facility but was always adventurous-built her own log cabin in woods of Snowdonia
Carmen- Jess' mom, died young of stroke, raised by Anna b/c Nancy wanderlust
Richard- Jess' father, remarried, 2 new children, no relationship with daughters-pawned True Love necklace after Carmen died, Nancy furious
Richard says "Trust the necklace"
leaves with Gus
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2021
England - Present Day
Jess Taylor and her older sister, Aggie, are at an important jewelry auction. For years, Jess has been searching auction catalogs for her grandmother, trying to find a family heirloom necklace. An art nouveau piece with a butterfly pendant and a moonstone, it was designed and made by Jess and Aggi's great-great-grandmother, Minnie, in the early nineteen hundreds. Nancy, their grandmother, is in a nursing home, and during her lucid times, she begs for the necklace. Finally, Jess finds it, and it all falls on her to buy it back for Nancy. But as soon as the bidding begins, Jess is stunned to have the man she'd bumped into earlier, working hard to outbid her. At the bitter end, he is successful, and Jess is distraught.
Jess has had a difficult year after being badly injured in a sky diving incident in Mexico where she'd traveled with her latest boyfriend. In chronic pain, and walking with a cane, she has had to move in with her sister and her family because her own flat is up too many flights of stairs. She has a small mail-order business obtaining and selling antique jewelry, and she has a boyfriend that Aggie approves of, reliable Tim. For someone who has spent most of her adult life running off to exciting places with men Aggie considers wild, Jess has learned that with her injuries, it may be time to slow down and get serious about life. Still, after the auction, she confronts the man who bought the necklace, offering to buy it from him. Amused, the man, Guy, lets her go on and on about it, but in the end, refuses her request. He does offer to take her to dinner some time, but she assures him that she is almost engaged.
It is difficult to visit Nancy and explain to her that she couldn't get the necklace back. Jess manages, however, to get Nancy to reveal more about her past. Curious after learning that the necklace has brought together soul mates throughout its existence, Jess sets off to find more of her family's mysterious history. From Minnie, who made the necklace, to her daughter, Anna, who fled an unhappy marriage, then Nancy, wild and carefree, and her daughter, Jess's mother, Carmen, who died of a stroke in her early thirties, the necklace has been passed on, and each woman met the love of her life. Jess yearns to verify if any of this is true. Her searches take her to Nancy's rustic cabin in Wales, to Hollywood, and back to London. With Nancy declining rapidly, Jess scrambles to somehow get the vintage necklace into her grandmother's hands. But obstacles, and Guy, may keep that from happening.
THE LOST AND FOUND NECKLACE is a coming of age tale as Jess not only learns of her family history, but learns about her wants and needs too. All the time, she is torn between the need for peace and security with Tim, or the cheeky, unpredictable Guy, who tantalizes her with his access to the necklace.
A great summer read, THE LOST AND FOUND NECKLACE will entertain readers from the first page.
Jess Taylor and her older sister, Aggie, are at an important jewelry auction. For years, Jess has been searching auction catalogs for her grandmother, trying to find a family heirloom necklace. An art nouveau piece with a butterfly pendant and a moonstone, it was designed and made by Jess and Aggi's great-great-grandmother, Minnie, in the early nineteen hundreds. Nancy, their grandmother, is in a nursing home, and during her lucid times, she begs for the necklace. Finally, Jess finds it, and it all falls on her to buy it back for Nancy. But as soon as the bidding begins, Jess is stunned to have the man she'd bumped into earlier, working hard to outbid her. At the bitter end, he is successful, and Jess is distraught.
Jess has had a difficult year after being badly injured in a sky diving incident in Mexico where she'd traveled with her latest boyfriend. In chronic pain, and walking with a cane, she has had to move in with her sister and her family because her own flat is up too many flights of stairs. She has a small mail-order business obtaining and selling antique jewelry, and she has a boyfriend that Aggie approves of, reliable Tim. For someone who has spent most of her adult life running off to exciting places with men Aggie considers wild, Jess has learned that with her injuries, it may be time to slow down and get serious about life. Still, after the auction, she confronts the man who bought the necklace, offering to buy it from him. Amused, the man, Guy, lets her go on and on about it, but in the end, refuses her request. He does offer to take her to dinner some time, but she assures him that she is almost engaged.
It is difficult to visit Nancy and explain to her that she couldn't get the necklace back. Jess manages, however, to get Nancy to reveal more about her past. Curious after learning that the necklace has brought together soul mates throughout its existence, Jess sets off to find more of her family's mysterious history. From Minnie, who made the necklace, to her daughter, Anna, who fled an unhappy marriage, then Nancy, wild and carefree, and her daughter, Jess's mother, Carmen, who died of a stroke in her early thirties, the necklace has been passed on, and each woman met the love of her life. Jess yearns to verify if any of this is true. Her searches take her to Nancy's rustic cabin in Wales, to Hollywood, and back to London. With Nancy declining rapidly, Jess scrambles to somehow get the vintage necklace into her grandmother's hands. But obstacles, and Guy, may keep that from happening.
THE LOST AND FOUND NECKLACE is a coming of age tale as Jess not only learns of her family history, but learns about her wants and needs too. All the time, she is torn between the need for peace and security with Tim, or the cheeky, unpredictable Guy, who tantalizes her with his access to the necklace.
A great summer read, THE LOST AND FOUND NECKLACE will entertain readers from the first page.
March 5, 2022
This is the same as The Lost and Found Necklace, by the same author. Not sure why they change the cover/title but they did.
The story kept my interest, and I wanted to know more about the family history and the history of the necklace. I was not as interested in the characters though. I liked them enough, but I just didn't root for them as much as I hoped. The main character, Jess, had been through an ordeal, and a history for picking men that didn't stick with her through thick and thin. Her overbearing sister Aggie, kept trying to make her something she was not. Jess is a free spirit and Aggie wanted to make her "settled". I know she was looking out for what she thought was best, but you can't force someone to be what they are not. Jess has a boyfriend Tim. Tim is a great guy, loves her, wants to make her happy, wants to have a stable relationship that leads to traditional marriage, kids, etc... but is that what is right for Jess? The stories of the women in her family were kept secret for so long, but why? The story around the necklace was that it helped you find your soulmate, though the stories were more tragic than happy, which yes is real life, and that is ok too. I did find interest in the idea that the soulmate didn't mean that you stayed happily every after while you grew old together. In most cases in this story, the soulmate was short-lived for one reason or another.
Then enters this "sparkly eyed" Guy that dazzles Jess, and while she struggles with what everyone thinks she should be, and the stability and settled down life, versus the excitement of this person and living life to the fullest, what is better for her heart, soul, and head? Also, is he who he says he is? Is the a match for Jess, or another shiny thing to catch her attention for a little bit, but won't stick around? You have to read to find out.
One thing that did bother me, is that the timelines and some references to the women in the family (5 generations back and one forward) didn't seem to add up to me. Maybe I was being too picky... but they described one character as being punk, but the ages and timelines didn't seem to fit in to make that right. The first generation is an adult in 1918 (I am assuming in her late 20s at this time), then the next seems to be in her early 20s in the 1930s. Then the next a teen in the 1950s, (but is said to have been many things, including a punk??). Then the next I am guessing to be 20s in the 1970s. And the current generation, if the book is set when written (2020) would be in her mid-40s, but is only 30 years old (I think). Her sister, yes older, has a teenage daughter, and it didn't seem that their age gap was that large. Which yes, I know is all possible, but just didn't seem to fit right in my head. I think I am just being too picky but that part didn't seem to flow well with me and sort of bit at the back of my mind while reading.
The story kept my interest, and I wanted to know more about the family history and the history of the necklace. I was not as interested in the characters though. I liked them enough, but I just didn't root for them as much as I hoped. The main character, Jess, had been through an ordeal, and a history for picking men that didn't stick with her through thick and thin. Her overbearing sister Aggie, kept trying to make her something she was not. Jess is a free spirit and Aggie wanted to make her "settled". I know she was looking out for what she thought was best, but you can't force someone to be what they are not. Jess has a boyfriend Tim. Tim is a great guy, loves her, wants to make her happy, wants to have a stable relationship that leads to traditional marriage, kids, etc... but is that what is right for Jess? The stories of the women in her family were kept secret for so long, but why? The story around the necklace was that it helped you find your soulmate, though the stories were more tragic than happy, which yes is real life, and that is ok too. I did find interest in the idea that the soulmate didn't mean that you stayed happily every after while you grew old together. In most cases in this story, the soulmate was short-lived for one reason or another.
Then enters this "sparkly eyed" Guy that dazzles Jess, and while she struggles with what everyone thinks she should be, and the stability and settled down life, versus the excitement of this person and living life to the fullest, what is better for her heart, soul, and head? Also, is he who he says he is? Is the a match for Jess, or another shiny thing to catch her attention for a little bit, but won't stick around? You have to read to find out.
One thing that did bother me, is that the timelines and some references to the women in the family (5 generations back and one forward) didn't seem to add up to me. Maybe I was being too picky... but they described one character as being punk, but the ages and timelines didn't seem to fit in to make that right. The first generation is an adult in 1918 (I am assuming in her late 20s at this time), then the next seems to be in her early 20s in the 1930s. Then the next a teen in the 1950s, (but is said to have been many things, including a punk??). Then the next I am guessing to be 20s in the 1970s. And the current generation, if the book is set when written (2020) would be in her mid-40s, but is only 30 years old (I think). Her sister, yes older, has a teenage daughter, and it didn't seem that their age gap was that large. Which yes, I know is all possible, but just didn't seem to fit right in my head. I think I am just being too picky but that part didn't seem to flow well with me and sort of bit at the back of my mind while reading.
January 6, 2021
A delightful romantic comedy that is simply enchanting, Louisa Leaman’s Meant to Be is sure to raise the spirits and make readers laugh out loud.
Poor Jess doesn’t have much luck in the romance department. Her relationship history is chequered at best and full to the brim with a motley assortment of misfits and losers. Having long since realised that she will never have the great Hollywood love story, Jess has instead chosen to be sensible and practical and has opted for dependable � and at times rather dull � Tim. Jess has given up hope of ever finding her soulmate and although life with Tim will be sedate and unexciting, at least she knows that she can always rely on him. Jess is certainly not looking for anyone else to come along and sweep her off her feet � until her grandmother tasks her with a challenging task that throws her straight into the path of a very charming stranger�
With her grandmother’s health declining, Jess is determined to do whatever it takes to make her wish of getting back a priceless family heirloom a reality. When she tracks down the necklace at an auction, Jess is delighted � only someone else has managed to get there before her. Handsome Guy has already bought the necklace and he simply will not part with it. Guy rejects every single one of her offers, but he might just change his mind if Jess agrees to go out with him on a date�.
Jess cannot help but scoff at Guy’s ridiculous proposition! She has a boyfriend already and besides, she would never dream of going out to dinner with a perfect stranger. But with her grandmother’s health deteriorating and realising that this might very well be her only chance of getting her necklace back, Jess finds herself with no other choice but to agree to go out to dinner with Guy. One dinner won’t hurt…or will it? Will Jess realise that her resolve to be sensible is making her desperately unhappy? Is Guy the right man for her? Or should she stop listening to her heart and continue to listen to her head and stick with dull as dishwater Tim?
Louisa Leaman’s Meant to Be is a charming, escapist and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will go down a treat with Sophie Kinsella fans. Sparkling with humour, glamour and fun, Meant to Be is a magical and heart-warming tale full of hope and heart about new beginnings, life’s unexpected surprises and taking a leap of faith and a chance on love that kept me engrossed and entertained throughout.
Louisa Leaman’s writing sparkles with plenty of verve and effervescence and Meant to Be fizzes and shines with hilarity and mischief which will leave readers completely riveted to the pages of this first class romantic comp by a superb new voice in the genre.
Poor Jess doesn’t have much luck in the romance department. Her relationship history is chequered at best and full to the brim with a motley assortment of misfits and losers. Having long since realised that she will never have the great Hollywood love story, Jess has instead chosen to be sensible and practical and has opted for dependable � and at times rather dull � Tim. Jess has given up hope of ever finding her soulmate and although life with Tim will be sedate and unexciting, at least she knows that she can always rely on him. Jess is certainly not looking for anyone else to come along and sweep her off her feet � until her grandmother tasks her with a challenging task that throws her straight into the path of a very charming stranger�
With her grandmother’s health declining, Jess is determined to do whatever it takes to make her wish of getting back a priceless family heirloom a reality. When she tracks down the necklace at an auction, Jess is delighted � only someone else has managed to get there before her. Handsome Guy has already bought the necklace and he simply will not part with it. Guy rejects every single one of her offers, but he might just change his mind if Jess agrees to go out with him on a date�.
Jess cannot help but scoff at Guy’s ridiculous proposition! She has a boyfriend already and besides, she would never dream of going out to dinner with a perfect stranger. But with her grandmother’s health deteriorating and realising that this might very well be her only chance of getting her necklace back, Jess finds herself with no other choice but to agree to go out to dinner with Guy. One dinner won’t hurt…or will it? Will Jess realise that her resolve to be sensible is making her desperately unhappy? Is Guy the right man for her? Or should she stop listening to her heart and continue to listen to her head and stick with dull as dishwater Tim?
Louisa Leaman’s Meant to Be is a charming, escapist and thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy that will go down a treat with Sophie Kinsella fans. Sparkling with humour, glamour and fun, Meant to Be is a magical and heart-warming tale full of hope and heart about new beginnings, life’s unexpected surprises and taking a leap of faith and a chance on love that kept me engrossed and entertained throughout.
Louisa Leaman’s writing sparkles with plenty of verve and effervescence and Meant to Be fizzes and shines with hilarity and mischief which will leave readers completely riveted to the pages of this first class romantic comp by a superb new voice in the genre.
December 13, 2020
I was fascinated by the premise of this book, vintage jewellery, family secrets and strong women really grabbed my attention.
The story begins with Jess and her sister Aggie at an auction house trying to buy back a family heirloom. A necklace that belonged to her great-great Grandmother Minnie. Unfortunately the auction does not go as they planned and she loses to Guy a jewellery dealer. Jess has to tell Nancy, her Grandmother that they were unsuccessful. Nancy tells Jess the story of Minnie and asks Jess where her spirit has gone. Jess has had a series of terrible boyfriends and an accident has left her battered emotionally and physically. Tim, her latest book boyfriend, is steady and reliable and has just been promoted to Deputy Head at the school he works at.
When Nancy takes a turn for the worst at her care home. Jess decides she must get in contact with Guy to see if he will let her borrow the necklace. There is something about Guy that unnerves Jess, and he says he will try to help her but can she trust him?
I liked Jess she has forgotten who she really is and Tim has asked her to move in with him and although she has persuaded herself that it is the right thing to do and men like Guy are no good for her.
She heads off to Snowdonia to Nancy’s cabin if she can uncover the truth about the necklace and Nancy.
This is a great read, I was hooked from the beginning the auction was tense and it made me want to find out about the history of the beautiful necklace and it’s origin.
I loved when Jess visits the home of Emery Floyd, the joint maker of the necklace with Minnie. Jess uncovers how Minnie ended up at the house and how she had a daughter Anna, Nancy’s mother. Also how Nancy ended living there too. What she uncovers is great sadness and how life is short and you should grab opportunities to be happy. It is an emotional read and I lost my dear Nanny this year and feisty Nancy reminded me of her.
If like me you enjoy a bit of a mystery, a love story and a historical origin of the family heirloom you will love this. I couldn’t put it down. I love Snowdonia and the references to my favourite spot Beddgelert made it even more special.
The more she discovers the more Jess starts to want know more about her family and how the necklace left the family. She begins to discover her own spontaneity again and this drives a wedge between her and Tim. Does she stay with him or fly off to Hollywood and rediscover her old self ?
You will have to read it to find out�..
An escapist, adventurous story, with old Hollywood glamour with twists and turns which kept me enthralled until the end.
I loved it !
5 stars
The story begins with Jess and her sister Aggie at an auction house trying to buy back a family heirloom. A necklace that belonged to her great-great Grandmother Minnie. Unfortunately the auction does not go as they planned and she loses to Guy a jewellery dealer. Jess has to tell Nancy, her Grandmother that they were unsuccessful. Nancy tells Jess the story of Minnie and asks Jess where her spirit has gone. Jess has had a series of terrible boyfriends and an accident has left her battered emotionally and physically. Tim, her latest book boyfriend, is steady and reliable and has just been promoted to Deputy Head at the school he works at.
When Nancy takes a turn for the worst at her care home. Jess decides she must get in contact with Guy to see if he will let her borrow the necklace. There is something about Guy that unnerves Jess, and he says he will try to help her but can she trust him?
I liked Jess she has forgotten who she really is and Tim has asked her to move in with him and although she has persuaded herself that it is the right thing to do and men like Guy are no good for her.
She heads off to Snowdonia to Nancy’s cabin if she can uncover the truth about the necklace and Nancy.
This is a great read, I was hooked from the beginning the auction was tense and it made me want to find out about the history of the beautiful necklace and it’s origin.
I loved when Jess visits the home of Emery Floyd, the joint maker of the necklace with Minnie. Jess uncovers how Minnie ended up at the house and how she had a daughter Anna, Nancy’s mother. Also how Nancy ended living there too. What she uncovers is great sadness and how life is short and you should grab opportunities to be happy. It is an emotional read and I lost my dear Nanny this year and feisty Nancy reminded me of her.
If like me you enjoy a bit of a mystery, a love story and a historical origin of the family heirloom you will love this. I couldn’t put it down. I love Snowdonia and the references to my favourite spot Beddgelert made it even more special.
The more she discovers the more Jess starts to want know more about her family and how the necklace left the family. She begins to discover her own spontaneity again and this drives a wedge between her and Tim. Does she stay with him or fly off to Hollywood and rediscover her old self ?
You will have to read it to find out�..
An escapist, adventurous story, with old Hollywood glamour with twists and turns which kept me enthralled until the end.
I loved it !
5 stars
August 7, 2021
An art-deco necklace in the shape of a butterfly with a large moonstone is at the center of this story, and Jess will be the Taylor to unravel the mystery, find the necklace and learn about her own history all in one. Now a jewelry dealer herself, Jess has always been of the mind that a good piece (or more) of jewelry will enhance your outfit and your mood, and she often chooses her outfits of the day after picking the piece she will wear. Remembering the necklace in her late mother’s jewelry box when she was a child, she’s been obsessively hunting for it for years: knowing only that an ancestor designed it, that four generations before her had worn it, and now, in the last stage of her life, her grandmother Nancy wants it once again.
Enter Guy at the auction house, the one person who gave her a ‘zing�, only to find that replaced with anger as he bought the necklace right out from under her at an auction. Hampered by both her physical injuries suffered in a failed sky diving accident with an ex-boyfriend and being subject to her elder sister’s rather ‘narrowed� view of her wandering, she’s now trying to be ‘more responsible and less spontaneous�, and that includes the man her sister and brother-in-law set her up with � a man who, quite frankly, is wonderfully kind but permanently dull.
Guy is different and more ‘outré�, even as Jess is fighting their connection: and without the necklace even if she has some vague promise to ‘borrow it� to bring it to her grandmother: Jess sets off on a series of adventures / fact seeking missions to learn about the necklace and her own history. She discovers stories about Minnie who designed the piece, Anna her daughter who moved to Hollywood, Nancy her grandmother who always claimed to be born in Hollywood but would say no more, and her daughter and Jess’s mother, Carmen.
This twisty tale is full of self-awareness exercises and challenges mental, physical and emotional for Jess, and the necklace (and bits about different sparkles and styles) was interesting and engaging, even as we could see Jess was struggling with who she was and who she thought she needed to become � two very different people. A wonderful story full of emotion, heart and plenty of conflict (most of it from Jess herself) the story is easy to enjoy and escape into.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Enter Guy at the auction house, the one person who gave her a ‘zing�, only to find that replaced with anger as he bought the necklace right out from under her at an auction. Hampered by both her physical injuries suffered in a failed sky diving accident with an ex-boyfriend and being subject to her elder sister’s rather ‘narrowed� view of her wandering, she’s now trying to be ‘more responsible and less spontaneous�, and that includes the man her sister and brother-in-law set her up with � a man who, quite frankly, is wonderfully kind but permanently dull.
Guy is different and more ‘outré�, even as Jess is fighting their connection: and without the necklace even if she has some vague promise to ‘borrow it� to bring it to her grandmother: Jess sets off on a series of adventures / fact seeking missions to learn about the necklace and her own history. She discovers stories about Minnie who designed the piece, Anna her daughter who moved to Hollywood, Nancy her grandmother who always claimed to be born in Hollywood but would say no more, and her daughter and Jess’s mother, Carmen.
This twisty tale is full of self-awareness exercises and challenges mental, physical and emotional for Jess, and the necklace (and bits about different sparkles and styles) was interesting and engaging, even as we could see Jess was struggling with who she was and who she thought she needed to become � two very different people. A wonderful story full of emotion, heart and plenty of conflict (most of it from Jess herself) the story is easy to enjoy and escape into.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
December 14, 2020
I really really enjoyed this book, so much so that I read it in pretty much one sitting. It was one of those books that you just get lost in and find yourself so invested that you just need to keep on reading. I loved the character of Jess, although I did feel like hitting some sense into her at some points! I liked the fact that Jess walked with a stick as it showed a vulnerability to her and made you question what had happened to her to cause the switch in her mindset.
This book is so much deeper than a simple love story and you get to learn so much along the journey with Jess, about her family, about the past and about jewellery. I've never been the biggest fan of costume jewellery, thinking it's a bit OTT, but the descriptions of Nancy's necklace sounded so beautiful that even I wanted to help find it.
When Jess first bumps in to Guy, quite literally, you can see straight away that he sees Jess as a person, and not just the walking stick. It's one of those moments in a book that makes your heart flutter a little bit as you can sense something before the characters themselves. Although when he outbids Jess on the necklace and refuses to make a deal with her you start to wonder whether he has alternative motives. Does he want this particular necklace for a significant reason to? This is definitely what came into my head when he starting talking about heirlooms as well.
You could really feel the chemistry fizzing but it was quite refreshing that Jess had her head screwed on and was set to her morals. I really liked this in her character as she wasn't carried away which made it more realistic to me. I was expecting a big twist to emerge about Guy, but when it came it wasn't what I expected at all, but I think what actually happened was more appropriate.
I think my favourite part of the book was the discovery of Anna and Archie, this really did bring a tear to my eye and you just wish for a happy ending. I absolutely loved this book and the writing style so I think I'm going to try and find more of Louisa's books to read but this book really does have a bit of everything! Jewellery, love, romance, forbidden love, history and more.
This book is so much deeper than a simple love story and you get to learn so much along the journey with Jess, about her family, about the past and about jewellery. I've never been the biggest fan of costume jewellery, thinking it's a bit OTT, but the descriptions of Nancy's necklace sounded so beautiful that even I wanted to help find it.
When Jess first bumps in to Guy, quite literally, you can see straight away that he sees Jess as a person, and not just the walking stick. It's one of those moments in a book that makes your heart flutter a little bit as you can sense something before the characters themselves. Although when he outbids Jess on the necklace and refuses to make a deal with her you start to wonder whether he has alternative motives. Does he want this particular necklace for a significant reason to? This is definitely what came into my head when he starting talking about heirlooms as well.
You could really feel the chemistry fizzing but it was quite refreshing that Jess had her head screwed on and was set to her morals. I really liked this in her character as she wasn't carried away which made it more realistic to me. I was expecting a big twist to emerge about Guy, but when it came it wasn't what I expected at all, but I think what actually happened was more appropriate.
I think my favourite part of the book was the discovery of Anna and Archie, this really did bring a tear to my eye and you just wish for a happy ending. I absolutely loved this book and the writing style so I think I'm going to try and find more of Louisa's books to read but this book really does have a bit of everything! Jewellery, love, romance, forbidden love, history and more.
November 27, 2020
Louisa Leaman in her new novel 'Meant to Be' takes the romance novel and imbues it with a higher sense of purpose by intertwining a deep exploration of how family history can impact upon the present. The novel is comprised of two layers: the romance strand of the novel which, whilst sweet, is overshadowed by the strand where Jess explores the history of her family's art-nouveau butterfly necklace, a piece which has been passed down the generations. Despite apparently leading previous generations to finding a meaningful love connection, the necklace and its history has been lost, the novel opening with Jess trying to get the necklace back at an auction... where much to her chagrin she loses to the mysterious and interesting Guy.
The romance strand of the novel is Jess being forced between her head or her heart: does she settle down with dependable teacher Tim for a stable and predictable life (he is a real sweetheart) or does she continue a life of spontaneous adventure with jewellery dealer Guy (sparks fly with him but it that enough to sustain a relationship?). She is held back by previous trouble with love which lead to a serious accident. Yes, this strand is predictable but appropriately heart-warming all the same (except perhaps the moment Guy chooses to profess his love - a tad inappropriate!)
However, it is the strand which follows the legacy of the necklace where the novel comes into its own. The search for meaning and truth about previous generations spans the globe as Jess follows the lives of previous owners of the necklace. The way the necklace binds the histories of subsequent generations is a joy to read and underpins why Jess has such an infectious passion for vintage jewellery. At times, the search for answers seems to fall a little easily into Jess' lap. Perhaps that is the magic of the necklace after all?
Overall, this is a lovely read from Louisa Leaman and I enjoyed the originality of the necklace binding the plot and characters together. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The romance strand of the novel is Jess being forced between her head or her heart: does she settle down with dependable teacher Tim for a stable and predictable life (he is a real sweetheart) or does she continue a life of spontaneous adventure with jewellery dealer Guy (sparks fly with him but it that enough to sustain a relationship?). She is held back by previous trouble with love which lead to a serious accident. Yes, this strand is predictable but appropriately heart-warming all the same (except perhaps the moment Guy chooses to profess his love - a tad inappropriate!)
However, it is the strand which follows the legacy of the necklace where the novel comes into its own. The search for meaning and truth about previous generations spans the globe as Jess follows the lives of previous owners of the necklace. The way the necklace binds the histories of subsequent generations is a joy to read and underpins why Jess has such an infectious passion for vintage jewellery. At times, the search for answers seems to fall a little easily into Jess' lap. Perhaps that is the magic of the necklace after all?
Overall, this is a lovely read from Louisa Leaman and I enjoyed the originality of the necklace binding the plot and characters together. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2021
I've been branching out a bit this summer, trying new authors and books that typically wouldn't have been at the top of my queue in the past, such as this British rom-com by Louisa Leaman. I have to say, I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
At the center of Lost and Found Necklace is an art nouveau necklace, it's journey through the years, and the profound impact it has had on multiple generations of women (and a few men) in Jess's family. The story is a bit mystery, a bit family saga, a bit romance, and a journey of self-discovery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked how the author interwove the threads of the stories of Jess's ancestors with the current family relationships and how the lessons of the past impacted the decisions facing Jess in present day.
All of the characters are well depicted; I felt as if I knew each of them, understanding their motivations, accepting their flaws. The story is well-paced, filled with humor, poignant emotion, forgiveness, understanding, self-acceptance, and an overall hopeful vibe. I enjoyed the evolution of the relationship between Jess and her sister (yes, I may have cheered at the end), was surprised by the revelations from their estranged father, and knew which man my heart wanted Jess to choose while still wanting love and happiness for the man left behind. There are no bad guys here, just right ones and wrong ones for the woman in question. Kudos to the author for keeping me guessing as to which was which right up until the end.
If you're looking for a sweet, charming, and realistic story that will take you from England to Wales to old Hollywood (not time travel - stories of past generations unveiled), introduce you to engaging characters, reinforce your belief in the "magic" of soulmates, and deliver a hopeful, happy ending, add The Lost and Found Necklace to your summer reading list. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.
*Advance copy received for fair and unbiased review
At the center of Lost and Found Necklace is an art nouveau necklace, it's journey through the years, and the profound impact it has had on multiple generations of women (and a few men) in Jess's family. The story is a bit mystery, a bit family saga, a bit romance, and a journey of self-discovery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked how the author interwove the threads of the stories of Jess's ancestors with the current family relationships and how the lessons of the past impacted the decisions facing Jess in present day.
All of the characters are well depicted; I felt as if I knew each of them, understanding their motivations, accepting their flaws. The story is well-paced, filled with humor, poignant emotion, forgiveness, understanding, self-acceptance, and an overall hopeful vibe. I enjoyed the evolution of the relationship between Jess and her sister (yes, I may have cheered at the end), was surprised by the revelations from their estranged father, and knew which man my heart wanted Jess to choose while still wanting love and happiness for the man left behind. There are no bad guys here, just right ones and wrong ones for the woman in question. Kudos to the author for keeping me guessing as to which was which right up until the end.
If you're looking for a sweet, charming, and realistic story that will take you from England to Wales to old Hollywood (not time travel - stories of past generations unveiled), introduce you to engaging characters, reinforce your belief in the "magic" of soulmates, and deliver a hopeful, happy ending, add The Lost and Found Necklace to your summer reading list. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.
*Advance copy received for fair and unbiased review
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