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The Small Fortune of Dorothea Q: An epic page-turning family saga (The Quint Chronicles) Kindle Edition
Sharon Maas (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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Thirty years of family secrets. Three generations of women. One family heirloom that could change everything.
When she ran away from her childhood home in Guyana, Rika swore that she would never return. Cut off from her family, she has fought hard to make a life for herself and daughter, Inky, in London.
Now, over thirty years later, Rika’s cantankerous, wheelchair-bound mother, Dorothea, arrives in London. But as old wounds re-open, Dorothea and Rika are further apart than ever.
Inky soon learns that her grandmother is sitting on a small fortune. As she uncovers the secrets of the past one by one, she unravels the tragedy that tore her mother and grandmother apart. But nothing can prepare her, or Rika, for Dorothea’s final, unexpected revelation.
An epic, mesmerizing tale of tragic loss, the strength of words left unspoken, and the redeeming power of love.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication date30 January 2015
- File size2120 KB
Product details
- ASIN : B00Q1Y09GY
- Publisher : Bookouture (30 January 2015)
- Language : English
- File size : 2120 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 482 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: 63,308 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 1,785 in Literary Fiction (Kindle Store)
- 3,314 in Contemporary Women's Fiction
- 3,398 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Sharon Maas was born into a prominent political family in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1951. She was educated in England, Guyana, and, later, Germany. After leaving school, she worked as a trainee reporter with the Guyana Graphic in Georgetown and later wrote feature articles for the Sunday Chronicle as a staff journalist.
Her first novel, Of Marriageable Age, is set in Guyana and India and was published by HarperCollins in 1999. In 2014 she moved to Bookouture, and now has ten novels under her belt. Her books span continents, cultures, and eras. From the sugar plantations of colonial British Guiana in South America, to the French battlefields of World War Two, to the present-day brothels of Mumbai and the rice-fields and villages of South India, Sharon never runs out of stories for the armchair traveller.
The Far Away Girl:
"What an incredibly descriptive and beautifully written book! I literally devoured it in two days. The words turned into images in my head and I quite easily became oblivious to everything around me as I drifted into the beauty of Guyana, Pomeroon, Shell Island and Kaieteur Falls. This isn’t a fast paced book, but I’m glad, because it enabled me to absorb and connect better with the events as they unfolded. You could really tell that the author has a close resonance and love for Guyana and her experience shines through in her choice of words and the depth of the narrative."
‘I loved, loved, loved this. An easy 5 stars. One of my top reads of this year.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I absolutely adore Sharon Maas’s books – she is one of my favourite authors, someone whose stories give me hours of reading pleasure. And this wonderful book is one of her best! I loved this book from start to finish, savouring every word, the author’s beautiful prose. An evocative, powerful story of a family and a country. LOVED every word and I absolutely cannot wait for more from this amazing author.’ Renita D’Silva, 5 stars
‘The Girl from the Sugar Plantation is a beautifully written story that has it all. I whizzed through this beautiful book, unable to put it down. A wonderful and heartrending story with lovely characters. Very highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘This is a powerful book of love, relationships and trust What great writing from a great author… Five Stars!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars
‘I practically read this book in one sitting. I became invested in this story from the opening line and it held my attention to the very last. I highly recommend this book, not only to lovers of historical fiction, but anyone who just loves to read!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘This novel again read like a film, the setting is stunningly vivid and the colours build up to form quite a picture of history and culture. The plot is nicely done, steady and builds to a climax of twists and secrets. The Girl from the Sugar Plantation is a fascinating read!’ The Book Trail, 5 stars
‘The gripping, evocative and poignant story of a young girl’s difficult transition into womanhood amidst a time of turmoil.’ Mrs Blog’s Books
‘Loved it!!! Really absorbing story… Sharon Maas weaves a fine tale and remains one of my go-to authors.’ MetLineReader
‘An epic story of family deceit, love and identity set against a stunning backdrop and yet there is much more to this book than that. With a rich cast of characters, you cannot help but get completely absorbed in their lives. I adored The Girl From The Sugar Plantation and recommend it highly. Maas has brought us a wonderfully written piece of historical fiction.’ Bloomin’ Brilliant Books
‘These books have taken me to a far-off land, to another time… The magic and power of music, the pain and pleasure of love, the destructive nature of secrets and lies all delved deep into my heart and I expect will stay there for some time… a powerful and emotional story that will melt even the coldest of hearts.
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Customer reviews
Top reviews from Australia
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Having said this I am enthralled by the sequel which I am currently reading.
Top reviews from other countries

The shades of brown or "complexion", is also prominant with explanation about its essential place for social standing in the community, although I felt Miss Maas could have explained it's significance better pre-the country's independence and its subsequent irrelevance to the post colonial young guyanese. It becomes class not colour thats is important. Her politics are all over the place, as she is clearly trying to set it in reality, but politics is subjective to which side of the fence you are on.
The postage Stamp "family heirloom" binds the story and works well. A little more "show don't tell" or perhaps it was felt all back information was required. I got a bit fed up of it as it was so obvious the old girl was playing a game with all of them this point went on and on nearly tedium.
The vast majority of Guyanese and Caribbean people are bi-dialectal but Miss Maas rams the point home again and again. Not sure why? Once could be enough. I prefer the way Bernadine Evaristo just writes, switching between creole and standard speech smoothly without it being an issue.
I read it on Kindle non stop. I am old BHS girl, about a generation behind Sharon Maas. I loved "Of marriagable age", which also had an awkward scene at the soda counter of Booker! Clearly a significant feature in her teenage life! "Peacocks Dancing" was such a huge disappointment so this text I am delighted to see Miss Maas is back on firm writing ground, less clichés, less killing off too many characters, filling in the back stories with great depth, and reminding many of us that some of those miserable grandmothers who seemed unable to demonstrate affection had their own Hard times. Yet it is never too late to repair relationships and you should never stop trying.
Enjoyable

I felt I knew the characters and now wonder what I will read next.

I would recommend this book.

Sharon Maas' characters are three-dimensional, believable and I felt I could almost hear them speaking. The Guianan setting lends richness and mystery to this wonderful story which spans several generations of family life with all its intrigue, loves and losses. I laughed out loud and cried in equal measures!
I can't wait to read the third book in The Quint trilogy, which I have already downloaded to my Kindle, so I can fill in the gaps in Winnie's life.
