I haven't read a family saga type book in years, and I'm glad this was from the free cart at the Timberland Regional Library. The pages turned, yes, but what insufferable writing and ridiculous characters... And unless your name is Margaret Mitchell or Kathleen Windsor, you'd best avoid that type of ending. I don't remember disliking Susan Howatch, so I am tempted to go re-read some of her stuff just to see if all such novels are this dreadful.