American Books

I grew up (in the 1940's and 1950's) about 50 miles from where Silas House now lives, and I can vouch for the authenticity of his picture of life in these mountains. He's an excellent writer, and I highly recommend his work to anyone interested in the people of the southern Appalachians.
In addition, I highly recommend his work to anyone interested in the relationships among people. House's narratives aren't about the region - they're about people (as any good literature must be).

I read this book along time ago, but I can still remember it. It is an awesome story about the struggles of life years ago in the appalachian mountains. This story left me on the edge of the bed every night until I finished it. I want to read it again soon.

Silas House has written a beautiful book that is so descriptive that you'd swear you could smell the wet leaves as the characters walk through the woods after a spring rain. This love story between Irish Saul Sullivan and Cherokee Vine is not to be missed. Wonderfully drawn characters, (my favorite is Serena, the wild midwife who befriends Vine), and lyrical, evocative writing make this a story not to be missed. If you enjoy this as much as I did, read House's The Coal Tattoo next, followed by Clay's Quilt. This will follow the whole family's saga from start to finish. All of these are wonderful stories, but this is the best of the batch, followed closely by Clay's Quilt.

This is a beautifully written, beautifully told story of Vine, a young Cherokee woman in Kentucky of the early 1900's. Vine is a three dimensional character, well-defined and very real.

While the story is slowly paced, it does not lag in any way. House does a great job of describing what "Holler" life was like during that period of time, and especially what life was like for Native Americans. Esme, Aidia and Serena are also well written characters and add a great dynamic to the story.

I did find that the characters of Saul and Aaron needed a little bit more defining for me. Why did Aaron become the type of person that he did? Other than Saul being described as a man of few words, I never got a good sense of him. I'm not sure it was an entirely good idea to have written him out of so much of the book. I would have liked to have read more about the relationship between him and Vine. Regardless, this is still a great book that I highly recommend.

Silas House writes beautiful novels. He teaches rich American History many of us would never learn if not for his books. I love to read about the Appalachians.

People of the Lakes (The First North Americans series, Book 6) (Purchased on 05/22/2008)


came on time and in exact condition described. will buy from this dealer again

I have purchased the entire set of these books from Amazon. They were all delivered in great condition, not to mention how exciting it is to read about the "olden" days and how life was lived before trains, planes, automobiles, stupid music and electricity!!! WHAT????..No washer?..Go to the river! No dryer?..Wait for the sun to shine!...No toilet paper?..use your own imagination on that one! And get hooked on these great books.

But I have loved all the books in the series. That being said, this one was fabulous. They Gears do a good job of making the stories interesting and entertaining but if you are into the pre-history there is so much information in there well placed in broad daylight but it all blends together beautifully.

I've loved everything I've read by the Gears and I've read just about everything they have published. Wonderful interposing of fiction onto the facts! They use their expertise as anthropologists and as story tellers to combine what really has been found about North American Indians and interpose a very believable story onto it. They really make the past come alive! The inclusion of what has really been found by anthropologists adds tremendously to the books!

If you like the Gears and haven't read it you need to. If you haven't read the Gears try this one. This was the first one I read and I had a bit of a problem at first following there style of writing a book...but I got over that fairly quickly as things progressed and I realized what and how it was written.

These characters are absolutely endearing. Based on historical facts of the Hopewells it is a marvelous journey based on suspense, humor and the supernatural. It made me addicted and craving more of there books! Try it out, as you can see I am not the only one telling you you won't be disappointed!

The Far Side series shaped my mind. I'm whatever I am today because of the insight this humour brought into my life when I was a kid. And the PreHistory of the Far Side is a must have!

This is a fantastic book and a must for any Far Side afficianado. Not only does it have the usual great material, but includes stuff never published and commentary by Gary Larson as he takes you through his creative process during various stages of his career.

I first saw this in my school library, and after reading a bit I decided to buy my own copy as it was so good. It is kind of like a short biography of Larson combined with special features like his earliest cartoons that weren't published and others he decided not to publish for various reasons. He includes annotated versions of some of his best cartoons, which make you think "Oh, so THAT'S what he meant..."

It's like a Larson bible. You need it.

Gary Larson has one of the sickest, most demented senses of humor and we are all better for it. In this book, he describes some of the major points in his development as a cartoonist. There is not a great deal of insight into his mentality, although he does include some of his cartoons that were rejected as being in too bad of taste. Those are of course the most interesting ones in the collection.
If you love the slightly macabre touch that Gary Larson expresses in his "The Far Side" comic strip, then this is a book you should read. It all started in a music store and the rest is twisted history.

So you've got the massive two-volume "Complete Far Side" and figure you're all set, Gary Larson-wise. If so, you're a few cows short of a herd, because you need this book to round out your collection. It's not just a collection of his comics. The book has a discussion of how his career as a cartoonist got started and has examples of his previous effort, a one-newspaper comic in the same style as "The Far Side." It goes on to show particular cartoons, with his comments on them, both positive and negative, on how they worked, where ideas came from or even the mechanics of drawing them, amongst other criteria. He also shares some sketchbook drawings, some of which led to final, published comics and some which did not. (One of the latter, about a frontiersman named Jeremiah and rhubarb, would have been a good one.) And he discusses how editing had sometimes unexpectedly changed his cartoons, and he relates the letters from people about specific cartoons, some very negative as you might imagine; for certain ones, he engages in a detailed discussion of what he tried to do, contrasting this with how others saw it upon publication. Larson also shares some UNpublished panels, some of which are hilarious. There's also a giant picture of a louse. He ends with a generous helping of his favorite panels, some in color. All in all, it's a lot of fun, and it gives a lot of insight into how Larson went about creating his famous comic that so many of us miss seeing in our newspapers daily.

This is by far my favorite book from that genre. I first read it in high school and have gone back several times over the years. I just purchased it again to give to my 13 year old daughter.

I grew up in Santa Fe, reading this book, serving Mr. Bradford coffee at Zook's Pharmacy on the Plaza. Mr. Bradford's book reassured me that my turbulent adolescence was do-able, by lighting the way.
I have not been back there in thirty years. Santa Fe has been taken over by the rich and the entitled and they have squeezed the soul out of what we knew growing up there, though there is plenty of beauty and spirit left to be sucked dry by the commercial people. But if you want to know the siren song of Santa Fe, read this book. Sagrado is, indeed, Santa Fe. This was what it was like there even in the 1960's and 1970's.
I mean, where else could you have that unforgettable horse AND world-class opera AND the mountains AND the humility of entertaining the Native Americans by just being white people on the Plaza?
I read this book, I can smell the pine wood burning in the farolitos, and the breeze in the chamisa after the Summer afternoon cloudbursts.

This is a wondrous short novel. Read it if you'd like to be a teenager again. Buy an old paperback copy showing a teenage boy and girl standing facing each other with their foreheads touching--a very sweet illustration.

Now a good review (recommendation) doesn't have to be long, so let me give you a few lines of description. A boy moves from Alabama to New Mexico during World War II, and while his father is away in the war, the boy finds friends and a home in the small mountain town of Sagrado. One of his new friends is an sculptor who carves stone heads and places them on a hillside.

On the great book cover: Sometimes book covers actually decline in quality with the many printings of a book. This has happened with "Red Sky At Morning," but remember you are buying the book for the story.

Another example of the decline in a book's cover is seen in the early cover for "Summer of Night," by Dan Simmons.Summer of Night (Aspect Fantasy) The 1991 "Warner Book" edition has a window with a cut out. Through the window you can see some boys riding their bicycles at night. When you open the book, you see a mysterious school in the background.

The later covers of "Summer of Night" were not half as mysterious or fun.

As many others have said, it's impossible to get tired of this book. My parents gave it to me when I was 18 and (again, like several others) the first time I read it I found it a little slow and disjointed. It gets better and better with every read - each time I pick up on the subtleties of a scene for the first time.

Rather than boring the reader with a bunch of obnoxious capers and hijinks, Bradford envelops you in his characters' community, and it's this day-to-day banality (which turned me off so much the first time) that really draws you into the story. Josh's adjustment to Sagrado takes time, but when it comes it's so natural and amusing that you're almost completely unprepared for the sobering conclusion of the story.

I had no idea the book was so loved until I read these reviews. There are so many special moments in the story - the big wet snowfalls that ruins Chamaco's fiesta, the horribly backward residents of La Cima, the refreshing "white trashiness" of the Cloyd sisters, even Parker Holmes tearing an elk sandwich apart with his teeth.

I wish these characters existed in real life, and I wish I could be their friend.

I thouroughly enjoyed this book, I do not know how I missed it for so many years. It was recommended in Nancy Pearl's "Book Lust" (which you really should buy if you are an avid reader.) I have never been dissapointed by her recommendations.

Josh, as the narrator in "Red Sky at Morning" is a 17 year old high school senior at the end of WWII. His dry wit mad me laugh right out loud several times. I loved his sensibility and humor. The cast of characters in this book reminded me of some of the characters in "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving.

This is one of my favorite reads of the year, so much so I will probably hunt down a hard cover edition for my collection.

Having seen this play done by a local theater company, I immediately fell in love with it, and when the chance came for me to put on a production of the complete works, I jumped on it. This is a great script that is very accessible for actors, with detailed stage descriptions that are great starting off points for original and dynamic blocking. The directions maintain the level of comedy with slipped in jokes including my favorite at the very end (you'll have to buy it to find out what it is), but this work of genius should not go unread by anyone, whether you are a Shakespeare buff or not. One note, there have been some changes in the script since this publication, but these can be seen in the non-actor's edition and the various Youtube videos of the play.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is an ingenious play. It is spontaneous and hilarious! If you're into Shakespeare, you'll love it. If you don't care for him because he was the reason you failed high school English, you'll still love this play!

I have seen productions of this play several times and each time it's hilarious! Now reading it I realize what geniuses the Reduced Shakespeare Company are - especially the writers Jess Borgenson, Daniel Singer and Adam Long! The book is worth it's price just for the footnotes. Their clever, witty, and yes - bawdy (Shakespeare would have been proud!) humor is priceless!

I am a high school drama teacher, and we bought copies of the Compleat Works of William Shakespeare Abridged for classroom use. They have been delightful to use, and perfectly correllating with the Reduced Shakespeare Company DVD that we have enjoyed in the past. The best part of all is how the kids retain the recognition of lines and scenes, even when we are viewing or reading other versions of his works. They love getting in front of the class and working up these zany parodies of the classics. I rate it 5 out of 5!!

Absolutely Hilarious! I would love to go see this play, however the book has annotations that are priceless, so you won't want to miss this either. You won't be able to put this down.

I've been reading Lindsey books for at least 20 years. I own every book she has out and wait with baited breath for each new one. I must admit that this book is one of my top 3 favorite books EVER! In fact, I've had to replace the book twice since my initial purchase. I can't count the number of times I've read it and continue to do so. I would definitely (and have, often) recommend this book!

This is the 2nd book in a 3 book series. First was Brave the Wild Wind which I liked but I absolutely LOVED this book. Colt was just so exciting to read about & man oh man my heart sure went out to him at the beginning of this book. Poor thing (although he wouldn't like me thinking this...LOL!). The storyline was so good & there was never a dull moment. The romance was awesome & so very hot. I highly recommend this book & this series. Can't wait for #3, which is titled Angel.

Who wouldn't love this romance? Yowsas! This is a pretty steamy romance with some well developed characters. If you read Brave the Wild Wind first (also a fantastic read), read Savage Thunder, then also read Angel, you have read this whole trilogy. Well, it isn't actually a trilogy but they are all about the same group of people (like the Malory books). At this time Lindsey was at her best. The men in all three books were sizzling and the women were strong and dynamic. I highly recommend you buy all three and take a day or two off work to just indulge yourself!

GRRRRRR.....OWL ......
I loved this book after picking it up and reading the first chapter I knew that I wasn't going to be able to put it down *sigh* I didn't want it to end .
I was lost at first not knowing that Savage Thunder was a sequel in a trilogy , But this book was indeed a page turner in its own right It didn't bother me that I felt like was missing something because Colt Thunder had a flare that kept me enthralled with this story . He was a Hero in my eyes he earned that much in the very first chapter when he was being whipped I might add it broke my heart reading that . Jocelyn Fleming was a Duchess by name but not attitude she had a way about her that kept me entertained . I loved the very first meeting between Colt and Jocelyn they played well off of each other. The sheer turmoil and angry outbursts mixed with the undeniable lust that Colt felt while in her presence was extremely masculine I could feel the heat as his heart yearned for her and yet denying her in the same breath
I could sense from the very first meeting that Jocelyn wanted him not for a one time lover as she stated over and again but for something else.' a husband maybe? Stubborn pride plays havoc on ones soul.
The timeline was great the old west with "showdowns" in the dusty streets .,priceless What was that movie ?? You know with the Earp brothers and the Clanton gang?? Oh yeah Tombstone HAHA I loved that movie and I loved how they were written into this book made it seem like I was watching my all time favorite movie again.
The Englishman who was chasing her around the world at first just to kidnap her then to kill because she was lucky in faltering his plans he didn't really seem like a villain to me more like a bubbling idiot but never the less it made for an adventure in the wild mountain terrain of the Midwest
Defentlly read this book I won't say that you have to read the first book in the trilogy it might help though but you might find as I did that Savage Thunder is a book in its own worth the time and the embarrassment when you yell at Colt & Jocelyn for their stubbornness in a public room...

Savage Thunder is the story of an English dowager duchess who comes to America to open a stud farm. The heiress, Jocelyn, has inherited a good deal of her late husband's estate, and the enmity of his successor. The new duke is so determined to retrieve Jocelyn so that he can control her fortune, that he sends a man chasing after her to return her to England and his control. Jocelyn's pursuer, a man she calls John Longnose because of his success in catching her scent over the years, doesn't capture her before her 21st birthday, which effectively seals any hope the new duke has of gaining her fortune. He fires Longnose, but the tracked decides to pursue Jocelyn for the hit to his reputation. He has never before not completed a task, and capturing the errant duchess is an embarrassment he can't tolerate.

In one of Longnose's many attacks, Jocelyn is saved by Colt Thunder, a half-breed Cheyenne Indian who has had enough trouble with white women to last a lifetime. When Jocelyn tries to enlist Colt as her guide, he refuses repeatedly since he's in town on other business. However, when she agrees to pay him an exorbitant sum, he can't refuse any longer. He agrees to escort the duchess and her entourage to the wilds of Wyoming, and hopes that he can keep his hands off her until then...

Savage Thunder is the sequel to Brave the Wild Wind, the first book in Johanna Lindsey's Wyoming Territory series. It was an entertaining story, and best enjoyed shortly after reading the first book. Colt Thunder is the half-brother of Brave the Wild Wind's heroine, Jessie Blair. He comes forward as a masterful hero in Savage Thunder, one willing to do anything to protect what is his. By contrast, Jocelyn was likable enough, but there wasn't enough about her to stand out. The real enjoyment in this story is to be found in Colt's past, his rigid dependence on his heritage, and in watching the walls he's built up begin to crumble as he falls in love. Savage Thunder is classic Lindsey, and I can't wait to read the third and final book in this series, Angel.

This is excellent reading for anyone who is interested in understanding better how the human mind works. The connection between Body, Mind and Spirit. Who are we? How can we be happier? Why do we behave the way in which we do? These life perplexing questions are answered here. After you read this book you may realize that you are not insane after all. You may even be able to change the way in which you think about life. Or the way in which you think about things all together, which may help you to bring about positive changes in your life.

This book is well written and straight forward. The chapers are short so you can read an entire chapter on a break at work. Each chapter covers a basic topic in Scientology. Then to top it off, if you're brave enough, in the end chapters you can learn some real Scientology counselling techniques and twin up with a friend and do them on each other! Using the techniques, you can improve your outlook on life. Something can be done about it after all! The counselling is only for the well disciplined though!

This book isn't for reading while you listen to punk rock. It's a thoughtful, chewy series of meals, best enjoyed and pondered alone or with an equally quiet and absorbed-elsewhere friend.

You won't find Christianity or Buddhism here, though Hubbard often credits Eastern religions for the genesis -- not the later discoveries developments -- of his theology and weltanschauung. If you're curious to find deeper life-truths than you'll find in any other popular author -- and more understandable philosophy than you'll find in a purposefully obscure philosophy class -- then you should read Fundamentals of Thought.

Read it slowly. View the new ideas in terms of "How might this be true? When could it be true? Are there times when it applies? Times it wouldn't apply? Have I seen this at work in life?"

The first time I read Fundamentals of Thought, I didn't love it. I was looking for a more fast-food answer to the Universe. I'd paid my money and I wanted my Big Slushy Truth now, please.

Later, I read it as part of a class where I had to dig into a dictionary to see *which* meaning of some of the words the author had meant. And I wrote some short essays on the chapters and concepts, then looked for ways these new ideas might be useful in the mean ol' walk-around world where I lived, made a living, and interacted with people.

So I came to appreciate the book on my second try. I hope you are more thoughtful and exploratory on your first try than I was. This book deserves it. And it pays you back for your time.

I read this book years ago, during a time when I needed advice and some sort of tool I could use to make life better for me and my family. This one really did exactly what it promised. The book was simple and easy to understand. The content was something I felt I already knew and the author just reminded me! I have read this book a couple more times the past 20 years and still find things in it that make so much sense - this is one worth keeping for reference, and is great as a gift too.

I read this book many years ago, and it definitely changed the way I looked at things in life. This book is a good introduction to Scientology.

Iain is a highland warrior who has been forced to fight against his people's allies or hang for a murder he did not commit. Annie is highland royalty and was sold into indenture when she was caught fleeing her murderous uncles estate with her mothers jewels. When the two of them meet Annie's masters home had just been attacked by indians and she is fleeing for her life. In her flight she practically runs into Iain. When Iain sees the beautiful girl fighting off six indian warriors he vows to get her to safety, despite the punishment he knows will come from his commanding officer. As he carries her on his back for miles through enemy territory and cares for her bruised body their attraction cannot be denied, but Iain knows he does not have anything to offer a woman so he fights his feelings until he can fight no more and their desire for one another collides. But what happens when Annie's uncle learns where she is? And will Iain still feel the same when he learns Annie is from an opposing clan?

***Anyone who reads my reviews knows I am not particularly fond of highland romances so I can totally say that this book far exceeded my expectations. The tenderness and dominance of Iain was a perfect match for the innocent Annie. Iain and Annie can steam the pages, I found this a great romance with a tiny bit of erotica thrown in...just enough to make you want more. I thought this book was detailed for the era and the characters in depth. I recommend this book and I will be checking out more from the author.

Kudos to the author...one of the best highland books I have read.

I had heard really good things about this author and this book. I must say that all praise was well-deserved. If you like Scottish heroes, you have to read this book. Iain has made an impression on me that will make it very hard for future Scottish heroes to live up to. He is fearless, honorable, capable, manly, beautiful and loving. He risks his life many times for his brothers and men, and for Annie, the woman he had no obligation to save, but did, even though it brought misfortune on him and his men.
The adventure in this book is incredible. I am as much a fan of adventure as I am romance. If a book can wrap both up in an appetizing package, I am won over. I don't typically seek out books set in colonial America, but this book has gotten me interested in this period. I loved that although Iain and his brothers faithfully maintain their Scottish identities, they are also seasoned frontiersmen and adopted into the local Indian tribe that we would more easily recognize as the Mohicans. Anna is a compelling heroine who shows strength and honor. She has suffered greatly, but her heart is still huge and capable of love. After reading this book I would definitely call myself a fan of Pamela Clare's books, and find myself very happy that I have accumulated all of her historicals. I may also have to branch out to her contemporaries. Surrender is a must read.

After my enjoyable reading experience with Pamela Clare's Ride the Fire, I was told that I simply must read Surrender. Whew man, am I glad I listened to everyone!

Although forced to serve the British during the French and Indian War, Iain MacKinnon does his job well. He and his band of Rangers have had much success but when Iain spies the courage of one beauty about to be ravaged by the Abenaki Indians, he defies his superiors and leaves to rescue her.

Annie Burns Campbell has known betrayal and forced submission as well, having been sold into indentureship by a ruthless uncle and sent far from her home in Scotland to the Americas. But when Iain saves her and takes her along with him she keeps it all inside in the hope that freedom will soon be hers.

Circumstances have a way of changing our heart's desire and Annie decides to risk it all to remain with the one man who has stirred a passion in her she has never known before- only to find that her past is about to catch up with her.

Clare has a feel for what historical romance readers want. Passionate love, strong noble men, vulnerable woman with backbone and yes, steamy sex! And to put it over the top for us- she placed her characters in the same setting as my most romantic movie of all time- The Last of the Mohicans starring Daniel Day Lewis.

Clare's historical's should not be missed!

Lady Anne Burness Campbell was betrayed into 14 years of indentured service after her uncle accused her of being a thief because she knew he killed her mother. She chose to be branded a thief rather than return to her Uncle Bain's house and possibly be murdered herself. Her uncle branded her on her inner thigh instead of her thumb so that she would never be able to sleep with a man without being found out as a thief. Anne was sent to the American colonies where she was sold into service to a frontier couple in colonial New York. Her owners are a harsh couple who beat her often because she does not know how to perform the tasks they expect of her.

One day while she is in the barn milking the cow, she hears gun shots and screaming. Realizing that Indians and French are attacking the farm, she goes out the back of the barn and runs through the snow toward the woods. The attack party sees her and pursues her through the forest, intent on raping and killing her. She slips down a rocky slope where the men finally catch up to her but she doesn't give up and keeps on fighting. Just as she is about to be hurt, a big man comes out of the woods and kills all of the men attacking her.

Iain MacKinnon is an exhiled Scot whose family immigrated to colonial New York after losing everything at Culloden. His grandfather was The MacKinnon, laird over his lands until the Argyll Campbells and English defeated his clan at Culloden, killing women and children as well as wounded men. Iain and his brothers Morgan and Conner grew up on the frontier, learning how to hunt and track along with their Indian friends, the Muheconneok. Iain was pressed into service for the British crown after a British Colonel accuses him of a murder he didn't commit then offers him a choice of starting a Ranger company for the Crown or hanging. Since Iain was a Catholic Jacobite, he knew the courts would not listen to him over a British Colonel so he was forced to lead a company of Rangers who fought for the British along with his two brothers who joined with him.

Major Iain MacKinnon is on a scouting mission to Fort Ticonderoga under orders to move swiftly to keep from being seen. He is not supposed to help any colonials under attack because it would give away the location of his company of Rangers. He sees Annie running through the forest and has to make a terrible decision, to save her from being raped and killed which will bring danger to his men because the shooting will bring the French and Abenaki to their position, or let her be killed and follow his orders. Iain is an honorable man who cannot stand to see such a courageous woman harmed in front of him, so he makes the fateful decision to send the rest of the scouting party away and save her on his own.

Iain saves Annie's life but she is hurt from running through the woods barefoot. He carries her on his back through the woods trying to ahead of the large force of Abenaki on their tail who want vengeance for the men he killed saving her. Iain vows to keep her safe and carries her for the next few days on his back, always just ahead of the Abenaki. Annie realizes that no one knows who she is and she could be free from her indentured service if no one finds out. She tells Iain that her name is Annie Burns because she is afraid he will hate her if he finds out that she is an Argyll Campbell.

They reach the fort where Iain is sentenced to 100 lashes for saving her life. Annie tries to get the British officer to relent but he refuses. After being whipped, Annie nurses Iain back to health. They both have feelings for each other but fight the attraction for different reasons. Iain is stuck in the Rangers until the end of the war and does not have anything to offer a wife until he can take over his farm again. Annie cannot sleep with Iain because he will find her brand and know she lied to him. But the passion between them refuses to go away and eventually ignites, leaving Iain and Annie to come to terms with the consequences.

Surrender is a beautiful love story full of action, adventure and passion. Iain MacKinnon is one of the best heroes I have ever read - honorable, protective and caring toward Annie and revered by his men. He does so much for Annie, from carrying her on his back for days after saving her life to doing everything he can to keep her safe from those who would do her harm. Annie was a sweet girl who deserved the protection she gets from Iain after being betrayed by those closest to her and shipped from a life of privilege to a very different life on the frontier. The passion between Iain and Annie is intense and wonderful. The romance in the book just makes you feel good because it's so beautiful. If you like the movie and setting of Last of the Mohicans, you will enjoy this book. The characters and setting of this book come to life and take you on a great romantic adventure. I have read this book three times and enjoyed it more every time. Surrender has earned it's place as my favorite historical romance book.

Iann and Annie's story is one of the best American historical romances I've ever read. It combines the tragic romanticism of post-Culloden Scotland with the wild excitement of the American frontier during the French and Indian War--think Last of the Mohicans with a dash of Braveheart. A history major, I have a soft spot for both Scottish and 18th century American history, and I appreciate Clare's attention to historical detail. But you certainly don't have to be a history buff to enjoy this novel.

Lady Annie Burness Campbell is a wholly likable heroine. Like many heroines, she's a young woman with secrets. Unlike most of those silly girls, she actually confides in the hero, rather than obsessively hiding those secrets until the novel's end. In fact, one thing I love about Annie is that she never behaves in the dreaded Too Stupid To Live manner. She recognizes that she's out of her element in the colonies and she has a healthy fear for this strange new world. She lost her father and brothers at Culloden and her uncle has turned out to be a maniacal deviant who murdered her mother--in bed.
The standard romance plot indicates that Annie should now be ridiculously independent due to this emotional trauma. She should decide to never again rely on anyone other than herself for security no matter how often the hero proves his worthiness. While I imagine that this is certainly one way a woman would react to such loss, it's an all too common plot device. (Is there anything worse than the stupidly independent heroine? It's such a blow to female empowerment.)
And thankfully, Clare steers clear of this trite plot gimmick. Annie is a gentle woman who longs for protection but refuses to hide from the truth in order to lead an easy life. Plus, Clare creates a setting that lets the reader know how really hard life can be for a vulnerable woman alone.

And then, Clare creates Iann Mackinnon. WOW. If you liked Daniel Day Lewis in Last of the Mohicans, you're gonna love this guy. He's got the hair, the outfit, the tatoos, the long gun AND a big sword (speaking literally and figuratively), plus a Scottish accent. One of the sexiest heros EVER!
Iann's an alpha hero, but he's never stubborn or stupid or cruel. He's a man with conviction. Like Annie, he's not a 21st century character sent back in time. For some readers, he may be a bit overbearing, but he's an 18th century backwoodsman, Ranger leader, and adopted Indian warrior. Of course he's alpha! But it's crystal clear that he loves his brothers, his men, and he's crazy about Annie. Before he even knows who she is, he's willing to disobey orders to save her life, a decision that comes with serious and painful consequences. When Annie tries to mitigate those consequences at the expense of her own honor, his reaction is truly heroic. I absolutely love this character!

The people, the setting, the dialogue, all of it is incredibly authentic and wildly romantic in every sense of the word. Even the villainous Wentworth is a multidimensional character who could metamorph into an intriguing hero. But you never feel Clare is setting you up to buy the next book. For of all these reasons, I cannot wait to do just that! Thankfully, I can read Morgan Mackinnon's story this month!

My sister-in-law recommended this book. At first I was skeptical, because other "Chiristian" fiction I've read was pretty watered down and sappy, but this is a really good story with real life applications. Not preachy, or syrupy.

I'm definitely a fan of Dee Henderson books, and this one is a good read, too. My only complaint is twice at least in the first half of the book a comment was made something like "the tension in the air was palatable". It's supposed to be palpable. Palatable means something tastes good. I enjoy the story, but such glaring errors like this make it hard to concentrate on it. I hope she's no longer using the same editors as the ones that checked this book.

When Kelly says a delirious "I love you" to her deceased husband's best friend and Navy SEAL Commander, Bear, neither of them can ignore the words to avoid the consequences. Kelly wakes up in the hospital after Bear rescues her from drowning only to realize what a horrible mistake she's made in revealing her feelings. Neither character seems anxious to acknowledge Kelly's declaration because they don't want to hurt the friendship they have. Bear's active duty status doesn't help matters, either. But what else can you do when you are both so crazy for each other?

This novel contains the best, most extravagant first date I have ever heard of! There are also flashbacks of military operations that add depth to the story. The suspense plotline is very well prepared. But the true gems that warm your heart are displayed in less flamboyant sequences where everyday life happens: painting the kitchen, SEALs coming home to a fridge with food in it. This is a superb book!

A wonderful story and great dedication to our service men and women.

Dee Henderson has once again written a fascinating book. It is well written, absorbing, and fast-paced, yet contains none of the lurid details less skilled authors use to attract readers. It realistically shows the struggles Christians face when dealing with adversity.

I am a big fan of Brandilyn's books! I love to read christian mystery/suspense novels...and this one didn't let me down. (I'll never look at a hot tub the same way...) It kept me hooked, page by page, and I didn't (couldn't) put it down.
A thrilling read with good Christian values effectively woven into the story!
I'd definitely recommend this!

The logical thing to do would be to call the police, but fearing publicity and her past, Paige Williams doesn't call the police. Instead, she decides to move the body of famous actress Edna Sans from her hot tub to an abandoned swimming area of Kanner Lake. What about her past would possibly cause Paige to think this is a wise move and how can she ever keep her crime hidden? More importantly, who really did kill Edna Sans, and why?

Violet Dawn is an interesting book. It's not really fast paced nor is it slow paced. It's not an intense thriller, nor does it have a laid back feel. I guess the best way to describe it is a suspense/police mystery, without a lot of plot twists and turns. It's easy to read but doesn't give a lot for the reader to discover. A strong feature to the book is the inclusion of Paige's background. It was integrated in a way that really provides most of the suspense and guessing in the book. Most everything else is pretty predictable, but her past is revealed a little at a time and brings the reader closer to her.

Many of the characters give the reader someone to either like or dislike. They help bring this somewhat scattered story together into a tight fitting plot. Each seems to be doing their own thing, when in reality, they're all working towards the same goal. While each have different motivations, they each have their boundaries of what they're willing to do to accomplish their goal. Makes for a nice interesting mix and keeps the story flowing well.

The heart of the story is love. Love we're given, love we've lost, and love we never had. Also very prominent is choices, their consequences, and second chances. Finding the ones we're giving and grabbing them. God provides us each with forgiveness and a new start, we just have to take him up on it. Though Violet Dawn is the first part of a series, it is a complete book in and of its self.

If you like Christian suspense/fiction this is a wonderful series. This book (as well as most of Brandilyn Collins books) is one that you won't want to put down. While these don't necessarily have to be read in order, I would definitely recommend it.

VIOLET DAWN is another riveting suspense thriller from Brandilyn Collins. Grabbing you in the first few pages with a bizarre discovery, Brandilyn knows how to hook her readers. Though some of the twists were a bit predictable, I didn't mind. It gave me a moment to catch my breath. The characterization of the villain was a bit distracting, but oh so Brandilyn. I look forward to the next installment of the Kanner Lake Series.

I loved this book, great start to a new series, I read this book in two days. I loved the short chapters and the intensity with which the book was written with. I found myself trying to guess what would happen next...even though this book was written by christian author it was not preachy at all.
Just full of lots of suspense, will definitely be reading this series.