Review: The Ugly Ducklings – How to Dance with a Duke

How to Dance with a Duke by Manda Collins

The Ugly Ducklings Trilogy #1

Romance – Historical, Published Jan 31, 2012

Challenges: Historical Fiction Challenge, NetGalley Reading Challenge

Read February 2012, 352 pp.

5/5 ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Book Blurb:

What’s a wallflower to do when she’s suddenly in need of a husband? Use all the pluck and moxie she can muster to get what she wants…

SHE’S IN NEED OF A PARTNER

Miss Cecily Hurston would much rather explore the antiquities of Egypt than the uncharted territory of marriage. But the rules of her father’s exclusive academic society forbid her entrance unless she weds one of its members. To clear her ailing father’s name of a scandalous rumor, Cecily needs to gain admission into the Egyptian Club—and is willing to marry any old dullard to do it.

AND HE HAS ALL THE RIGHT MOVES

Lucas Dalton, Duke of Winterson, is anything but dull. He’s a dashing and decorated war hero determined to help Cecily—even if that means looking the other way when she claims the dance card of Amelia Snow, this season’s most sought-after beauty. But Lucas has a reason for wanting Cecily to join the Egyptian Club: His brother went missing during one of Lord Hurston’s expeditions to Egypt. An alliance with the explorer’s bluestocking daughter could bring Lucas closer to the truth about what happened…or it could lead him to a more dangerous love than either he or Cecily could have imagined….

Thoughts:

Absolutely loved it!  Great mix of romance and mystery, set in Regency England and the height of all things Egyptian.

Cecily’s father, Lord Hurston, the founder of the Egyptian Club, has fallen mysteriously ill since his return from Egypt.  His secretary, Will Dalton, has gone missing from the expedition and is presumed dead.  Cecily, who has always had a great interest in Egypt and her father’s studies, is determined to get into the exclusive Egyptian Club to reclaim her father’s personal journals in hopes of figuring out what could have gone amiss during their latest expedition, but is embarrassingly not admitted into the club that only allows entrance of club members and their spouses.  As an unmarried woman, Cecily is laughed out the door – and sadly enough, that tidbit was her own father’s rule!  So along with her dutiful cousins’ help, Cecily is determined to change that fact and get her father’s journals back.

Lucas, the new Duke of Winterson, and Will’s brother, is also looking for clues to his brother’s disappearance and is willing to do anything to get the information he needs.  When he discovers that it is the beautiful Cecily that he needs to get help from, he doesn’t hesitate to reject her attempt at finding a husband that is a club member.  In fact, he wouldn’t mind marrying her himself.  I loved the nonstop banter and chemistry between Lucas and Cecily.

I also loved the archaic vocabulary Collins used throughout the book – I was so glad for my kindle dictionary!  The characters were great! I loved all three of the “ugly ducklings.”  While this story focuses on Cecily, all three of the cousins had great wit, intelligence, and a need for independence in a time where social standing and popularity meant everything.

The mystery of the missing artifacts and journals as well as Will’s disappearance and Lord Hurston’s sickness left me suspicious of everyone!

Can’t wait for Book 2 – How to Romance a Rake - about Ugly Duckling #2 – Cecily’s cousin, Juliet – comes out July 31st.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Sunday School Review: The Merchant’s Daughter

The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

YA Christian Historical Fiction/Romance, Published Dec 2011

Challenges: Christian Historical Fiction, NetGalley Month (Jan)

Read: January 2012, 288 pp

4/5 STARS – Highly Recommended!

Book Blurb:

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf’s bailiff-a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past.

Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Thoughts:

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie, so as soon as I saw this was a retelling of that story, I knew I wanted to read it. Annabel is sentenced to work for the new Lord of the town.  Her family was once wealthy when her father was alive, but he lost all his money with the loss of his shipping business and he soon died thereafter.  Annabel’s mother and brothers are portrayed as useless louts who refuse to pay their taxes or work the yearly wheat crops with the rest of the town.  When Lord Ranulf comes to town and takes over, Annabel’s family is sentenced for their negligence.  Annabel is the one to take this responsibility on, working in the wheat fields.  But when Lord Ranulf notices that she is having such a hard time with the work and that she is being bullied by his own bailiff, he sends Annabel to work in the kitchens. Her troubles don’t end there, however, and her only respite is finding the one thing her heart truly desires – to read the Bible for herself, not believing her God, a loving God, would teach the hellfire and damnation that their local priest preaches.  Along the way, her heart is opened to the one person she never saw before.

There are a lot of characters to dislike in this book, but I can’t imagine living in 1352 was an easy life for most. I enjoyed Annabel’s relationships with her friend Stephen, the head maid – Eustacia, and with, of course, Lord Ranulf.  The historical setting of England in 1352 is beautifully written.  I wanted to go there and see the new castle, or “manor” as it is called, being constructed.

I really enjoyed Annabel’s enthusiasm for wanting to read the Bible for herself.  Often times I think that nonbelievers and even believers can  misconstrue the teachings of God and I think reading the Bible for yourself can help you understand and strengthen your faith in Him.  After reading this book, I just happened to read the book of Ruth and enjoyed seeing the parallels with the part of the story where Annabel is working in the wheat fields to Ruth and Boaz’s story in the Bible.  This was my first time to read Melanie Dickerson and it won’t be my last!

Quotes:

He surveyed the undulating countryside, green and lush along the river bank, despite the lack of summer rain.  The river shimmered and tripped over short, rocky falls and wound around the bends and through bogs where bluebells bloomed on the banks.  He couldn’t have chosen a more picturesque village for his new home.

Glynval was the location he had run to, an area where he intended to live at low ebb, flow with the simple rhythm of village life, breathe fresh air, and keep aloof.  His peace would come from the natural beauty of the countryside, from his own independence and freedom.

As he entered, she once again caught sight of the sky behind him, which had bruised blue and purple with clouds and threatened rain.

Book Trailer:

For another retelling of Beauty and the Beast, check out Beauty by Robin McKinley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Sunday School Review: To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Christian Historical Romance, Published 2011

Challenges: Historical Fiction Challenge

Read August 2011, 347 pages

4/5

Book Blurb:

Do they have a fighting chance at love?

After completing his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas.  Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade Levi learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past.

Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs in the town her father founded.  When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she’s reluctant to trust him.  Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.

Eden believes she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity.  But when the truth about Levi’s prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?

My Thoughts:

I have definitely become a fan of Karen’s work and of Bethany House’s historicals! I loved her A Tailor-Made Bride and am looking forward to reading her other published book Head in the Cloud as well as her upcoming release in June, Short-straw Bride. 

In Spencer, Texas – 1887, Eden is more than surprised when the new blacksmith in town knocks on her door to visit her library.  What could a brute of a man like him want with her books?  Levi is looking for a new start in life after serving two years in prison for killing a man in a boxing fight.  No one in town knows of his past crimes except for the Cranfords who have agreed to let him run their blacksmith.  Will Levi ever be able to right his wrongs or will he always be haunted by his past? 

I really enjoyed Levi’s character.  Even though he might have somewhat of a shady past, he becomes one of the most outstanding members of the Spencer community.  He struggles with a lisp, unable to say words with s’s very well, but he makes up for it by always searching for another word to replace it, which is why he loves to read – not to mention the pretty librarian.  It takes a while for Eden to figure out why he improperly calls her Eden instead of Miss Spencer.  But when the truth starts to leak of Levi’s past, will she ever be able to get past it?

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Check out my review for Karen Witemeyer’s A Tailor-Made Bride!

Read Full Post »

Sunday School Review: The Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund

The Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund

Christian Historical Romance, Published Sept 2011

Challenges: Historical Fiction Challenge

Read: December 2011, 378 pp.

4/5

Book Blurb:

Priscilla White knows she’ll never be a wife or mother and feels God’s call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.

Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God’s leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

Book Trailer:

Thoughts:

I really liked that Jody based this novel on real people – Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, which she talks a little bit about at the end of the book.  It is a fictionalized tale, but one that is heavily based on Narcissa’s personal journals. This story covers from the point when Eli comes to New York and visits Priscilla’s community church and their entire journey back across the continent to Oregon, to what would eventually become the Oregon Trail.  Priscilla (Narcissa) was the first white female to ever cross the continental divide – a feat that many thought was impossible to be achieved by any woman.  It seemed that at every turn their paid guides left them high and dry, but Eli was bound and determined to get Priscilla there in one piece.  Their traveling companions, Henry and Mabel Spalding (Henry and Eliza Spalding), made for interesting company, especially since Priscilla had once turned down Henry for her hand in marriage. 

It was a marriage of convenience and I understand that they were both annoyed with the fact that they were essentially “chained” to one another, but the one thing that annoyed me the most about this book was Eli’s persistence on being so rude and standoffish toward Priscilla.  When the story flips to his point-of-view, it is obvious how much he cares for his wife, but these feelings are trapped inside him for 97% of the book.  And even when she made advances toward him, he still refused her! That seems a bit hard to believe in my opinion, which is really the only reason why I ended up rating this book a 4 star instead of a 5 star.  I would have liked to see their relationship develop more over the length of the trip instead of the decision made at the very end.

It is obvious the amount of research Jody has done and I actually want to read Narcissa’s firsthand accounts of their journey.  Overall, I really enjoyed the story  of their overland journey and look forward to Jody Hedlund’s other book, The Preacher’s Bride, which is based on the story of Paul Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress and his wife Elizabeth.

See more from the author – interview with TheCreativePenn.com:

Thanks to Bethany House for providing me with an copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Teaser Tuesday – May B.

 

After all, I cook some, collect fuel, mend, tote water, hoe, wash, pretty braid or not.

Why not Hiram?  I think, but I already know: boys are necessary.

 

 

 

 

Review to come soon!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Read Full Post »

Review: Pirate of My Heart

Pirate of My Heart by Jamie Carie

Fiction – Historical, Christian, Published Sept. 1, 2011

ARC received from netGalley.com

Challenges: YA Historical Fiction

Read: August 2011, 320 pages

4/5

Book Blurb:

When her doting father dies, Lady Kendra Townsend is given a choice: marry the horrid man of her cold, money-grubbing uncle’s choosing or leave England to risk a new life in America with unknown relatives. Armed with the faith that God has a plan for her, Kendra boards a cargo ship and meets American sea captain Dorian Colburn. But the captain has been wounded by a woman before and guards his independent life. A swashbuckling man doesn’t need an English heiress to make him slow down, feel again, or be challenged with questions about his faith-or so he thinks. It is not until Dorian must save Kendra from the dark forces surrounding her that he decides she may be worth the risk.

Book Trailer:

My Thoughts:

1796 – Lady Kendra is her father’s love and joy, the Earl of Arundel, but when a tragic accident leaves her parentless, her father’s twin brother takes over the estate.  He is the one that has greedily gambled away most of the Townsend money and possessions and insists that his niece marry a wealthy man of his choosing.  When she refuses, her uncle sends her away to America on a boat to live with her mother’s only relatives whom she had never met.

Dorian has finally become captain of his own cargo ship and is very perturbed to discover that one of his officers has accepted payment for the boarding of a woman.  Not knowing what to do with her, he allows her to stay in his own quarters and bids her to stay put.  It doesn’t take long for Dorian to really enjoy Kendra’s company and promises to escort her to her aunt and uncle’s place.

The only thing I found annoying was that Lady Kendra really puts the phrase damsel in distress to work! I think Dorian literally saved her life at least 5 times.  I really enjoyed all the plot elements, but toward the end, it seemed a bit farfetched and on the side of ridiculous. So many were out to get Kendra, but with her ever faith in God’s will, Kendra seems to find a way.

From pirates trying to board Dorian’s ship, to a woman who won’t leave him alone, to finding Kendra’s aunt and uncle, the action is nonstop.  Even though she was raised in privileged circumstances, she is not above working for her keep and always believes that God has a plan for her life.  How will Lady Kendra be received once she meets her long lost relatives?  Will they love her or use her?  And how will Dorian use her social stature to rescue her will she allow her “pirate” to capture her heart after all?

Quotes:

(quoted from ARC, will double check against hard copy when I get one!)

The grey clouds of dawn shivered against the paned glass of the castle, shrouding the three figures at the side of the four-poster bed in an eerie light.  The raging storm of the night before had settled into a dreary misting rain though an occasional jagged flash of lightning flaunted its power, not yet ready to relinquish its right to ravish the leaden sky.

The leaves had turned into a crimson, sunny yellow and carroty riot of color, as if a magician had waved a wand during the night and created a new world.

Thanks to netGalley and B&H Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Soldier’s Wife

The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy

Fiction, Published June 28, 2011

ARC received from Hyperion Voice

Historical Fiction Challenge (Historical Tapestry)

Read: June 2011, 403 pp.

4.5/5

Book Blurb:

As World War II draws closer and closer to Guernsey, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting.

What she does not expect is that she will fall in love with one of the enigmatic German soldiers who take up residence in the house next door to her home. As their relationship intensifies, so do the pressures on Vivienne. Food and resources grow scant, and the restrictions placed upon the residents of the island grow with each passing week. Though Vivienne knows the perils of her love affair with Gunther, she believes that she can keep their relationship and her family safe. But when she becomes aware of the full brutality of the Occupation, she must decide if she is willing to risk her personal happiness for the life of a stranger.

A novel full of grand passion and intensity, The Soldier’s Wife asks “What would you do for your family?” “What should you do for a stranger?” and “What would you do for love?”

First Impressions (Out of all the books I have to read, why this one?):

A few years ago I read and really enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.   Guernsey is a little island north of the coast of France, but is part of the UK.  My favorite genre to read is historical fiction, pre-1900s, but since I loved all the people living on Guernsey island in Potato Peel Pie, I decided to give this one a try.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the author’s style of writing.  It was an easy and quick read, yet the lush descriptiveness made me feel like I was on the island right there with Vivianne.  I’m glad the final version will have a map because I found myself googling the island to see where everything was taking place.  The Soldier’s Wife is driven by the character of Vivianne, a thirty-something mother of two daughters and caretaker to her ailing mother-in-law, – her everyday life, her gardens, her trips around the island to visit friends, and even her view of the German soldiers who have taken up residence next door. 

In The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, one of the main characters, Juliet, lives in London and communicates by letter to the islanders so the reader gets to see not only what is going on Guernsey, but also what is happening in London.  In The Soldier’s Wife, none of the characters ever really know what is happening outside of their bubble world on the island.  At the beginning of the occupation, they are allowed to use radios, but eventually these are banned, although one of Vivianne’s friends has hidden hers in a casket at the funeral home. 

Vivianne has always yearned for a safe, cozy, known environment.  I think that is one of the main reasons she ultimately decided not to put herself and her children on the small boat to leave the island before the German occupation.  There was no news from London or anywhere, for that matter, and she did not even know if the boat would really make it across the water. All she knew was that so far the Germans hadn’t come and that maybe their little island would be overlooked.  It was a desperate hope, but ultimately, Vivianne was wrong and I think she pays dearly for that decision especially with her relationship with her teen daughter Blanche.  But was she really wrong to decide not to flee? 

Throughout the novel, I really liked how the author uses the different fairy tale stories as well as the scenery and weather descriptions to signal foreboding and the slow, gradual accession of the German occupation.  Vivianne reads fairy tales to her daughters and she even contemplates the fact that all the stories she is reading are about weary soldiers who have been gone to war for a long time and have to endure many challenges and even supernatural encounters to make it back home. I liked Vivianne and Gunther together, even if she was sleeping with the enemy! I really don’t know how they kept it a secret from the rest of her family. I never thought that Gunther would betray them and that they truly loved each other in their own ways.  They both loved living in their own secret fairy tale world.

I think it is Johnny’s character that really puts the morale back into Vivianne’s step.  He is forever hopeful that Britain will overtake the Germans and that the state of things will not last forever.  I think many people, including Vivianne, have given into the Germans.  It is a slow declination into poverty for the islanders and they often feel content and even grateful that things aren’t worse for them.  For the most part, as long as they comply by a few rules, the soldiers leave them alone.  It is not until the islanders start seeing the forced laborers and hear of the concentration camp, and especially for Vivianne when her daughter Millie gets directly involved, that she starts to really notice the reality of their situation and take action.

This would be a great book club book as there are many things to discuss.  (Note to self: I need to start a book club so I have someone to discuss with!!) There are some great questions at the end of the book and the more I think about it, the more I love this book! It has a quietness to it that is very profound.  I love the questions, too posed in the book blurb – How well do you really know someone?, What would you do for your family?, What should you do for a stranger?, and What would you do for love?

Quotes:

I loved fairy tales just as she does, enthralled by the transformations, the impossible quests, the gorgeous significant objects – the magic cloaks, the satin dancing shoes.  And just like Millie, I’d fret about the people in the stories, their losses and reversals and all the dilemmas they faced.  So sure that if I’d been in the story, it would all have been clear to me, that I’d have been wise and brave and resolute, that I’d have known what to do. (p. 4)

…where the princesses follow the pathway down to another world, a secret world of their own, a place of enchantment. (p. 5)

After tea, I read her a bedtime story that tells of a girl who married a creature as ugly as a hedgehog, and at night he took off his coat of spines and became a handsome man. (p. 94)

But however happy they were on Guernsey with their loved ones, they were obliged to return eventually to their homeland, under a contract written in blood that could not be disobeyed.  Sooner or later they had to leave the people they loved and sail away. (p. 184)

I don’t like that ending. It’s sad. It’s not a good ending,” she (Millie) says.

Learn more about Guernsey and the Occupation of the Channel Islands.

I received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Mammoth Hunters

The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel, Audio narrated by Sandra Burr

Earth’s Children Series #3

Fiction, Published 1985

Challenges: Audio Book Challenge, Historical Fiction Challenge

Read April 2011, Unabridged – 26 hrs

Story: 3/5, Narration: 5/5

• #1: The Clan of the Cave Bear
• #2: The Valley of Horses

Book Blurb:

Now with her devoted Jondalar, Ayla boldly sets forth into the land of the Mamutoi – the Mammoth Hunters, the Others she has been seeking.  Though Ayla must learn their strange customs and language, it is because of her uncanny hunting and healing skills that she is adopted into the Mammoth Hearth.  Here Ayla finds her first women friends, and painful memories of the Clan she has left behind.  Here, too, is Ranec, the dark-skinned, magnetic master carver of ivory tusks to whom Ayla is irresistibly drawn – setting Jondalar on fire with jealousy.  Throughout the icy winter, Ayla is torn between her two men.  But soon will come the great spring mammoth hunt, when Ayla must choose her mate and her desiny – to remain in the Hearth with Ranec, or to follow Jondalar into a far-off place and an unknown future.

Thoughts:

I came to love many of the members of the Lion Camp and their relationships with each other and with the newcomers.   They not only accept Ayla and Jondalar into their camp, but also her horses.  They even build an annex for them, which many of the Mamutoi find shocking, to persuade Ayla to stay the winter with them.  Among their members, is Rydag, a young boy who is like Ayla’s son, half Clan and half “the Others.”  When Ayla teaches him the Clan ways to talk with his hands, the members of the Lion Camp realize that he is not dumb, but was just unable to speak like them. 

I’ve been listening to the audio books of this series back to back. Absolutely LOVED The Clan of the Cave Bear and The Valley of Horses, but this one seems very, very repetitive and had to listen to 26 hours of Ayla’s ridiculous love triangle drama. Come on Jondalar, step up!!   You would think that after all the mishaps in their communication skills in the valley that they would have realized that perhaps they should consider NOT making assumptions about what the other person thinks or feels and just come out and ask them! It certainly would have saved a few hundred pages of ridiculous miscommunications!  Really, for someone who is supposed to be so understanding of subtle, and perhaps not so subtle, body language, you would think Ayla would get it through her thick skull why Jondalar is avoiding her and sleeping with another man in the SAME cave as him where he can HEAR EVERYTHING does not help matters…seriously!!!

I will continue with the series because I want to see what happens with Ayla and Jondalar, but do they have to be the most genius members of all mankind, really???  I would like to see another person come up with a new idea instead of Ayla or Jondalar. And I wonder what will happen with Wolf!

LOVE THIS REVIEW on Amazon! Hilarious!

Read Full Post »

Review: The Valley of Horses

The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel, Audio narrated by Sandra Burr

Earth’s Children Series #2

Fiction, Published 1982

Challenges: Audio Book Challenge, Historical Fiction Challenge

Read March 2011, Unabridged – 21 hrs

Story: 5/5, Narration: 5/5

• #1: The Clan of the Cave Bear
  

Book Blurb:

In The Valley of Horses, Ayla, the unforgettable heroine of The Clan of the Cave Bear, sets out on her own odyssey of discovery away from the nurturing adoptive family and friends of the Clan.  She is in search of others like herslef and in search of love.  Driven by her intelligence, her curiosity, and her destiny, she explores where the Clan never dared to travel and encounters a hostile world of awesome mystery, glacial cold, terrifying beasts, and intense loneliness in which survival itself is a constant battle.

Sharing a hidden valley with a herd of steppe horses, Ayla finds a unique friendship with animals as vulnerable as herself and ingeniously discovers the complex skills needed to survive – skills no Clan member was ever able to master.  But none of her experiences prepares her for the emotional turmoil she feels when she rescues a young man – the first of the Others she has seen – from almost certain death.  Torn between her desire for human companionship and her fear of the unknown Others, she struggles against her deep attraction to the handsome Jondalar.  It is Jondalar who teaches her the meaning of true friendship and love.

Thoughts:

I enjoyed listening to Ayla’s long journey away from the Clan and her many struggles and triumphs.  As we learned at the end of The Clan of the Cave Bear, Ayla has been cast out of the Clan and all the people she grew up with and loves thinks she truly is dead.  So she must leave and follow her adoptive mother’s advice to find the Others, people of her own kind.  She walks a long way and decides she must find a more permanent home for the coming winter since she has not seen any people.  She finds a valley with a cave high above and sets up camp.  The descriptions of her making tools, killing animals for furs and meat, are truly amazing.  She constantly struggles with her complete isolation and makes friends with the most unlikely of her kind.

Jondalar and his brother, Thonolan, are on a rite of passage journey, one that takes them far away from their home, in search of the end of the Great Mother River.  It is a long journey, as they discover many kinds of people often join their families for meals and hunting parties.

The narration switches back and forth between Ayla and Jondalar’s stories until they finally meet and I really enjoyed both of their stories.  Usually, for me, when the story flip flops between two points of views, there is usually one that I like more than the other and can’t wait until it flips back, but that was not the case for this story.  I just could not wait until Ayla and Jondalar’s paths crossed, but this did not happen until at least 2/3 of the way through.

One of my favorite aspects of these books are the maps.  I love maps and whenever a books has one, I often find myself flipping back to it to see where the characters are in relationship to where they’ve been.

Side note: I should probably mention, too, that there are a lot of detailed sex scenes throughout these books, so don’t be shocked…

Read Full Post »

Review: Christy

Christy by Catherine Marshall and narrated by Kellie Martin

Fiction – US Historical, published 1967

Read: Dec 2010 – Jan 2011, 19 hrs – unabridged audio

Verdict: 4/5

Book Blurb:

In the year 1912, nineteen-year-old Christy Huddleston leaves home to teach school in the Smoky Mountains – and comes to know and love the resilient people of the region, with their fierce pride, their dark superstitions, their terrible poverty, and their yearning for beauty and truth.  But her faith will be severely challenged by trial and tragedy, by the needs and unique strengths of two remarkable young men, and by a heart torn between true love and unwavering devotion.

My Thoughts:

When I saw that the audio version of this book was performed by Kellie Martin, I just had to have it! I absolutely love the TV series Christy, where she plays the star role, alongside Tyne Daly, who takes on the role of the infamous Alice Henderson.   Loved the story and I think the romance between Christy and Dr. Neil MacNeill is brought out more in the TV show.  There is a hint of it in the book, but he’s absent during most of the story.  The story mostly focuses on Christy becoming more mature over the year she lives in Cutter Gap.  While she grew up in a very prosperous home in Asheville, North Carolina, the living conditions of Cutter Gap bring back thoughts of mere pioneer stories she heard as a child.  She quickly comes to rely on Cutter Gap’s new preacher, David, as well as the Quaker missionary, Mrs. Henderson.  There is definitely a Christian influence in the missionary work and Christy really struggles with her faith and this struggle is really personified by her relationships with the devoted preacher and the more rustic doctor, who has lost faith after a tragic history.  I loved her friendship with Fairlight Spencer as well as all the children of Cutter Gap.

There was an interview at the beginning of the audio version with Catherine Marshall’s son, Jeff LeSourd, who talks about his grandmother’s life – which parts of the story were fact and which were embellished.  I knew that in real life Christy did not actually marry the doctor, but the preacher.  The end of Christy sort of leaves it as an unanswered question, but with Christy not only feeling the devotion and loyal friendship of David, but also having true feelings for Dr. Neil MacNeill.  Mr. LeSourd says the romance triangle was an added story plot in an effort to add a little interest.

Christy will take you on a journey through the backwoods and mountains of Tennessee; it is one of persistence, faith, learning, and understanding.

Quotes:

Curious to know what Cutter Gap looked like, I slid out of bed and hobbled stiffly over to one of the windows.  Nothing had prepared me for what met my eyes.  Mountain ranges were folded one behind the other, in the foreground snow-covered; behind that, patches of emerald green showing through; on beyond, deeper green.  Then the blues began.  On the smoky blue of the far summits fluffy white clouds rested like wisps of cotton.  I counted the mountain ranges, eleven of them rising up and up toward the vault of the sky.  The Great Smokies…now I understood.  That particular smoky-blue color and the adjective “great” – so right for these towering heights. -p. 54

“Teacher, I’ve come to see you and to swap howdys.  I memorized your name.  It’s shore a funny name.  I never heerd a name like it afore” (Little Burl Allen) -p70-71

The beginning of Christy’s story. It’s so beautiful, it makes me want to go back to the Ozarks.

(no, I did not upload this on youtube…just sayin’…)

Read Full Post »