I really wanted to like this book and had expected more from it, having read the blurb of the book " so when Emilly's great aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington state, Emily accepts, longing to be healed the the sea, researching her next book Emily discovers a red velvet diary,dated 1943 whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life............ I was intrigued by the blurb as it had the makings of an excellent story.

The plot however is a little predictable and unrealistic and I had expected something different from this book and therefore was a little disappointed.

However it is an easy read and while it did not have the wow factor it is a nice love story and I can see how readers views will differ on it as some will love it and others will find it ok, for me it needed a little more substance and that is why I rated it 3 stars. ( )

I tore through this while kind of hating myself for it. It's an engrossing story but the writing is almost elementary. At times it seems like it was produced in a creative writing seminar, with all the appropriate tropes represented. I won't go so far as to say I'm unhappy I read it, but my life would not suffer at all if I hadn't. ( )

This was an engrossing quick read that takes place on Bainbridge Island. ( )

Really good yarn with some hidden past secrets, and I loved the descriptions of Bainbridge Island. Easy and compelling read. ( )

Not anything super exciting, but I enjoyed this book and it has inspired me to find an out of print copy of "Years of Grace." Which is turning into another enjoyable read. ( )

Not anything super exciting, but I enjoyed this book and it has inspired me to find an out of print copy of "Years of Grace." Which is turning into another enjoyable read. ( )

This is an excellent book! It is a very sweet story about love and relationships. The book opens with Emily signing divorce papers after her husband cheats on her. She goes back to Bainbridge Island, where she used to go as a child, to heal and sort out her life. While on the island she discovers a diary from a woman, named Esther who grew up on the island in the 1940's. The book alternates between Emily's story and Esther's story. In this diary Emily discovers things about her life as well as this Esther's life. In order to heal her future, Emily must first heal past wounds of the people in her life. There is a bit of a mystery in this story as well. Sarah Jio does a wonderful job keeping the reader engaged. I found myself wanting to know what happened to these characters. ( )

The author uses the curious nature of wood violets which have bloomed on the island in an off-season to signal promise and redemption for the future. Great Aunt Bee tends and protects these flowers but actually the story is suppose to center more around the mysterious red velvet diary that Emily finds....but what it actually did was give me a list of unbelievable and seemingly impossible events. One or two would have been okay but there was t least a half dozen or more. For example...
1. Months worth of events were indicated to have occurred in three weeks time.
2. Emily meets someone...falls in love and gets engaged after three dates in three weeks...you have to bear in mind that she had just divorced the "love of your life". (her words, not mine)
3. Emily simultaneously dated two new men within that three week period and she hadn't seen one of them in ten years. (When did she find time to research her new book?)
4. The date on the letter from her grandmother was one day after her grandmother dies...and the list goes on. Name changes throughout were also confusing. I've read much better by Sarah Jio. ( )

Even though I enjoyed this book and the journey it took me on, I wanted more. At times the plot felt rushed and contrived, especially the present day romance between Jack and Emily. And why did every guy who met Esther and Emily fall in love with them? Both women had three men (if you include Emily's ex-husband near the end of the novel) vying for their attention simply because they were beautiful. It was like reading a love triangle on steroids!

Personally, I thought Emily, especially, was a fairly bland, uninspiring protagonist - she was just too passive. I would have liked her to have been stronger, more independent and far more interesting than she was.

The mystery was okay, although fairly predictable, but it was all the secrets that had me rolling my eyes. There were just too many to be believable. However, the descriptions of Bainbridge Island were beautiful and I loved the front cover. ( )

2.5 Stars.

I know and have known some fabulous octogenarian women but there is not a one that could be or could have been a pallbearer no matter how dearly loved the friend as Bee at age 85 did for Evelyn. Yes, it is fiction but to me it was simply ridiculous. Prior to that scene, I liked Aunt Bee but then she started slamming her bedroom door a lot in her retreats from conversation with Emily. Really?

I did enjoy reading the setting of Bainbridge Island as I know it is home for author Susan Wiggs and family.

I usually do not have any difficulty keeping track in my mind of the various relationships of the characters to one another. In this novel, I felt like I needed charts - family trees and lists of friends. I don't enjoy paging backwards to try and figure out "Who's who?" I did a few times and then just gave up and kept reading.

I obviously made the connection between the discovery of the wood violets in the garden and the title of the novel but it felt like a gimmick to me. I wasn't surprised to learn that it was an "added thread" for the novel. Please see story on author's website at this link.
https://sarahjio.com/2011/05/19/the-violets-that-inspired-the-violets-of-march/ ( )

After her marriage breaks up, writer Emily heads to her Aunt Bee's house on Bainbridge Island during the month of March to put her life back together. Bee puts her in a guest room that she's never been in before - a pink room - and in it she finds a diary from 1943, which seems to have connections to her own life. As she reads it, and researches the clues that lie within, she finds that it was written by her grandmother who died....or did she? ( )

This is my first book by this particular author and it won't be my last. I loved it.
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Ho letto “Il diario di velluto cremisi” in un giorno solo. È un libro che si legge in fretta e si dimentica altrettanto in fretta, non lascia niente di niente. Personalmente lo trovo malscritto (e anche, probabilmente, maltradotto): un profluvio di aggettivi usati a caso (esempio: “possedeva un fascino impalpabile”, io il fascino palpabile non l’ho mai visto) e di figure retoriche così fruste che non sono più neanche figure retoriche (la mente recupera un ricordo e l’originalissima metafora è quella che accomuna il recupero di un ricordo al recupero di un file, complimenti per la creatività!). La trama è stucchevole e melensa, un’antologia di banalità da togliere il fiato: la protagonista-narratrice alle prese con un divorzio perché il marito ha trovato un’altra donna, va a trovare la vecchia zia sull’isola dove questa abita, e dove la protagonista reincontrerà il vecchio amore del liceo che le sta ancora dietro; lei, tuttavia, preferisce la storia travolgente con il figo dell’isola; dopo un po' di tira e molla con gli amici dell'isola, il marito fedifrago torna indietro ma ormai c’è il figo dell’isola, quindi non se ne fa niente; dulcis in fundo, il mistero dell’isola che ti attira a sé e ti lascia andare solo quando lo decide lei: non ho colto proprio nessuna analogia con Lost! Il tutto ruota attorno a un diario trovato per caso dalla protagonista: diario che racconta una storia di famiglia della protagonista, che guarda il caso è del tutto simile alla storia recente della protagonista. In sostanza è come leggere due inutili polpettoni noiosissimi in uno. Io per fortuna questo libro non l’ho comprato, me l’hanno regalato. Sarebbe opportuno che denunciassi chi me l’ha regalato e chiedessi all’autrice di risarcirmi delle quattro ore della mia vita che ho perso per leggere questo romanzaccio da quattro soldi, e che nessuno mi ridarà mai indietro. ( )

Loved this story! More than just a love story! A love story from the past intertwined with a love story from the present. Highly recommend! ( )

Perfect. Everything I love/need/want in a novel! ( )

I am going to call this one a pleasant Gothic-lite type of beach read. Gothic for the haunting atmosphere of the mysterious family secret a handful of Bainbridge Islanders seem to know all about that Emily has to work to uncover. A good beach read in that recently divorcee Emily has not one but two romantic interests (or three if we include her ex in the count) with the escape from New York City to an island retreat, even if spending March on an island in the Puget Sound, Washington area isn’t exactly the tropical “sun and surf” locale other readers may prefer. Of course, the icing on the cake for me is the historical fiction aspect of the 1943 diary slowly reveals a haunting story of love gone wrong.

Jio does a wonderful job pulling tiny tidbits from the 1943 diary story and echoing them in present day for Emily to stumble across, twigging tiny “deja-vu” experiences. Jio accurately captures Bainbridge Island and has created some wonderful characters in Aunt Bee, Evelyn, Henry and Emily’s BFF Annie. The romantic interests were just okay as they came across as being a tad too contrived for my tastes. As far as protagonists go, Emily fits the bill as the typical contemporary romance lead but parts of her character had me eye-rolling, especially the fact that Emily seems to be financially well off considering she doesn’t appear to have any income except for the revenue from the sales of her debut novel (yes it was a bestseller and yes it was made into a movie but that was like 5 years ago). There are also a couple of discontinuity issues that the editor/proof-reader should have caught (for example, Esther arrives in a wool twin set but a couple of paragraphs later, the buttons on her dress are being undone).

Overall, I really, really enjoyed the family secrets mystery and the Puget Sound location but beyond that, this is a formula beach read just like thousands of other books of the same contemporary romance genre. A pleasant way to while away a rainy afternoon or a lazy Sunday. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I didn't want to put it down, I wanted to know who Esther and Elliott were. I wanted to know what would happen with Emily and Jack. I also didn't want it to end like it did. I wanted to know more of the story. It was very well written and I look forward to reading more from Sarah Jio. I would recommend this book. ( )

I love love LOVED this! Loved. I read it in a day because I couldn't put it down. I like how there are really two stories.. the story of the narrator and then the story she's reading in the diary. So good. ( )

A sweet story. A woman travels to an island near Seattle to visit with an elderly aunt after her husband asks for a divorce. During her stay she discovers a diary from 1943 in a bedroom. The diary reveals a love story with a tragic end, but she gets the feeling that the story is unfinished. While reading she discovers parrallels between the love story in the diary and her own life and also discovers that maybe the people in the story have ties to the present day. ( )

A sweet story. A woman travels to an island near Seattle to visit with an elderly aunt after her husband asks for a divorce. During her stay she discovers a diary from 1943 in a bedroom. The diary reveals a love story with a tragic end, but she gets the feeling that the story is unfinished. While reading she discovers parrallels between the love story in the diary and her own life and also discovers that maybe the people in the story have ties to the present day. ( )

Good, forthright romance novel. The mystery takes a bit of a backstage here, I think. The parallels between old flames and current was a little grating, as was the stubborn pride of the character Esther. So much could have been avoided and mended if she had just taken a deep breath and listened on more than one occasion. It was a nice summer book and fast read. I will probably read another by this author, and if it goes down the same path, will cross her off my list. That is what keeps me from giving more stars to this one.
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After my last read this book was the perfect palette cleanser. It was a quick read … I devoured it in a few hours on a stormy Sunday afternoon.

Emily has a terrible case of writer’s block, her husband has left her for another woman and as the book opens the divorce papers are on the table needing to be signed. What remedy better that to escape for a month to the place of her fondest childhood memories, the home of her great aunt Bee on Bainbridge Island. Of course there is the ever present family drama, a mysterious diary to be found and a 60 year old mystery to be solved and an old boyfriend to contend with and a new love interest to be nurtured … need I go on? Maybe it is because I needed something light and airy to read, but I loved this book. It would be the perfect read for an afternoon at the beach, a dreary rainy day stuck inside or just because you need an escape.
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This book came up as a recommendation when I was poking around the library site looking for a new book for my ride to work. It looked like it had potential, so I gave it a shot.

Emily goes to visit her aunt to try and find inspiration for a new book. Her aunt, Bee, is the kind of strong and fiercely independent and doting aunt I think many of us wishes we had. She puts Emily in her mother's old room and she finds a red velvet journal in one of the drawers and can't resist beginning to read it. And there the mystery begins as she emerges herself into the lives of the people in the pages of Esther's journal and she begins to ponder who Esther really is.

Its a charming little tale of forbidden love and family secrets that no one wants to talk about. Its a story within a story. The tale from the past and the mystery of who they really were and the investigation in the current as she learns of her family and the secrets they have all kept that has created rifts in the relations. Agreed, the story itself is not particularly original, but it is in the way Sarah Jio writes it that makes it intriguing. Its not so much that I was caught up in suspense and needing to see what happened next. But, I did get very much immersed in the lyrical style of her writing. The story was well told. Granted, it drug a bit at times, but not overly much so.

I think some of what I liked the most in this novel was the interaction between Emily and Bee and some of the other characters. She created wonderful characters that were believable and human. I do accept that part of the charm I found in the book was the author's obvious love of the islands of the Sound, which I understand now that I am myself a resident of one. The only negative I have on this book is that I feel there were too many loose ends at the end of it. I am not sure if she intends this to be the first in a series, but I don't think it lends to a second book. Even if it did, the end should have been tied up a little bit better. Not wishing to give away any spoilers, simply there were questions that were left open that I think should have been answered. That said, I found it to be a very good novel. Even more so that it was a debut novel.

I have read some of the other reviews and many of them are overly harsh on this writer and her book. I have attempted to read books by seasoned authors that couldn't come close to the natural ability of this writer. I suppose the book could fall under the umbrella of chic lit, but it doesn't to a level that I would find distasteful. Its a charming read by a writer that is definitely worth watching in the future.

SephiPiderWitch
http://sephipiderwitch.com/violets-march-sarah-jio/ ( )

Ironically, I just finished an ARC of “Goodnight June”, Sarah Jio’s latest book to hit the streets on May 27, 2014 (which I loved) and highly recommend. At the end, an excerpt of “The Violets of March” was included, and realized this was her debut novel --immediately started reading.

Having read the first and latest- trying to get to the ones in the middle. The only other book I have read, “Morning Glory” which I loved. Currently reading Blackberry Winter --The Bungalow, and the others are making their way quickly to the top of my “to read list”!

Emily thinks she has it all until her marriage fails with her husband leaving her for another woman. Her successful writing career will go up in smoke if she does not get over writer’s block. She then decides to go to her favorite spot- Bainbridge Island, where she spent her summers growing up visiting her Aunt Bee with fond memories of the past.

When she finds a diary from 1943, there is much to follow which will keep you turning the pages to learn more from each of the diary entries, holding secrets from the past, plus much more. “Violets of March” offers so much in this short read with captivating events and dynamic characters – Mystery, Romance, History, Lies, Secrets, and Love-- full of twists and turns.

There is a parallel between her current love life, and two exciting men and that of Ester’s life, as she is transported to another era and time, while discovering what is important to her.

Sarah Jio has a way of holding back just enough with surprises and wisdom at the ending, for an engaging read and characters you think of fondly, long after the book ends. A magical debut novel!
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This story begins when Emily Wilson sets out to Puget Sound to visit her Aunt Bee after she and her husband divorce due to his infidelity. She is devastated and intends to try to make sense of her life again. But wait . . .

At her aunt's house Emily finds an old diary in the nightstand drawer next to her bed. There are people and events she reads about that sounds vaguely familiar. Her aunt doesn't want her to associate with certain people on the island. Years ago her mother and her aunt had a falling out but never found out why and neither of them will talk about it. Her aunt's friend Evelyn tells Emily that she will be the one to finally make everything right. She sees the same photograph of a beautiful woman in different homes on the island but nobody will talk about this mysterious woman. Emily continues to read the diary while she puts the pieces of the past together.

Needless to say I couldn't put this book down until all these questions were answered. This book was definitely a page turner and one I read quickly. Definitely recommended for those liking a bit of mystery and past/present stories.

How I acquired this book: Guessing Barnes & Noble earlier this year.
Shelf life: Less than a year. ( )