“The instant we meet Violet Grey, Never a Cloud’s narrator who reveals much about herself through a litany of nicknames given by past lovers, we are confronted with the strength, charisma, intellect, and vulnerability that will characterize all the members of her fascinating family. Violet’s wise caveat to the reader that it is nearly impossible to fully know anyone belies the insightful and in-depth portraits of each of the novel’s characters--no small feat in a multi generation tome with a psychologically complex cast. Indeed, especially with the novel’s female characters, the reader is treated to their furtive secrets and deeply held fears and desires, as well as the often-contradictory outer expression of the longings held inside the human heart.

The exquisite, lyrical prose and razor sharp cultural and artistic references offer a special treat to the erudite reader; yet the novel's highbrow tone is nicely balanced with pervasive sly humor and deep, abiding observation of nature’s glory. Scotland may be “a hard land with a hard past,” but its haunting beauty is at the novel’s forefront.

In addition to the author’s poetic prowess, one of the joys of reading the novel is the insight into the fertile inner and outer lives of the intelligentsia. In these post-literate times, with so many cultural offerings loaded with trendy references and cheap slang, we forget the intellectual heritage of our educated forbears. Reading Never a Cloud, I was often reminded of classic literature of the past, rich with language and fearlessly inviting the reader to stop and ponder. In other words, to think. At the end of one chapter, when two long-lost lovers reunite, “the beauty of the narrative overwhelmed them.” I think the reader will experience the same time and again while indulging in Never a Cloud.”

—Karen Essex, national and international best-selling author, award-winning journalist, and screenwriter, Kleopatra, Pharaoh, Leonardo’s Swans, Stealing Athena, Dracula in Love, and Bettie Page: Life of a Pinup Legend