“The House of Sever” is a light-hearted historical romance novel, following the journey of Rhema de Frees, a tomboy baroness living in fictional 19th century Gallia. Though Rhema would like nothing better than to remain happily obscure with her family and her childhood crush, Jonathan, circumstances beyond her control thrust her into the world of society, politics, revolution, and love. . . .
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“Sentence of Marriage” is the first book in the three-volume “Promises to Keep”. The entire work covers twenty-five years; this first volume takes Amy from the ages of twelve to sixteen. Amy is a bright and imaginative girl who dreams of an exciting life in the world beyond the farming valley where she lives. But in nineteenth century New . . .
This is a 148,000 word historical fiction and geographic drama. It is set in Salina, Kansas, and Monterey and Pebble Beach, California. The story runs through the years 1891-1996. It is an adult novel. The story is both coming of age and adult soul-searching. Several vignettes break up the novel. A third person narration is supplied as the memories . . .
I have to say, this novel really got under my skin. Six months after reading, I’m still haunted by it.
The first part of this novel is like reading about Laura Ingalls Wilder’s autobiographical stories of a pioneer girl’s life; it’s the same farming and family life, but among the exotic [more . . .]
This novel is filled with foolish choices, betrayed trust, selfishness, and failed confidences; all set in a well-written historical epoch.
The pivotal episode (warning spoiler) is a case of old-fashioned serial date rape. Not old fashioned in the sense of ‘used a lot’ but old-fashioned in the sense of ‘how they [more . . .]