Customer Reviews

Bethany's Song

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like her sister Alicia, Bethany James is swept away from present day Drexel, Wyoming, by the River of Time. She finds herself in 1895 Juneau, Alaska. Susan Plunkett's characters are three dimensional and very likable, and her insightful, and well
researched, look at Alaska in the 1800's is a refreshing change of scenery. Bethany is more than confounded by her time travel,
she's scarred and reticent to open herself to love - in any century.

Architect Matthew Gray has his hands full. He's dealing with the loss of his father, and trying to find the saboteur at his
family's mining operation. The unexpected arrival of lovely Bethany is one more complication he doesn't need. Nevertheless, the two work well together, forming a realistic bond that will last through time.

Another Susan Plunkett winner. I can't wait for Caitlin's story!

At the Drexel Cemetery in the Wyoming mountains, the three James sisters sing Christian songs at the burial of local witch Yolanda D'Arcy. No one else, including the caretaker, Digger Phelps, attends the ceremony. Soon a fog comes out of nowhere and engulfs the threesome. Fifth grade school teacher Bethany James quickly realizes that she is no longer in modern day Wyoming, but quickly learns that instead is in 1895 Juneau, Alaska without her two siblings to accompany her.

Architect Matthew Gray grieves the loss of his father when Bethany lands at his feet. Matthew, who believes someone is sabotaging his family's mining operation, wonders what to do with this bewildered witch, who soon takes over the local teaching position. As they fall in love, will Bethany be able to make the commitment to Matthew; an emotion she never could do in what was her birth decade.

The second River of Time tale is an engaging time travel romance that will excite the audience with its insightful look at the gay nineties in Alaska. As with the lead female in the first novel (ALICIA'S SONG), Bethany adapts too easily to a less technological era. Still the audience will admire her courage to overcome her demons (from a car accident that injured her and killed her parents) to find love with Matthew. BETHANY'S SONG is a winner that will leave sub-genre fans wanting to quantum leap into the future to read the concluding tale starring Caitlin.

Harriet Klausner

I enjoyed Bethany's Song the second in books with the storyline of 3 sisters. Though the book was used, it was in good condition and I received it within just a few days after ordering it. It can stand alone but it was nice to read it after the first book, "Alicia's Song" also by Susan Plunkett.

From the back cover:

A sweeter melody...

Two years after her life was altered in a car wreck, Bethany James found freedom. It came in the form of the River of Time, sweeping her away from her old life, to 1895.

But awakening in Juneau, Alaska, Bethany discovered a whole new batch of problems. For one thing, she had been separated from her sisters--the only ones with whom she shared perfect harmony. And the widowed mine-owner who found her--Matthew Gray--was hardly someone with whom she expected to connect.

Yet struggling to survive, drawing on every skill she possessed, the violet-eyed beauty found herself growing into a stronger person. She was learning to trust, learning to love. And in helping Matt to do the same, Bethany realized the laments of the past were only too soon made the sweet strains of happiness.

And my review:

I must admit that I'm a little surprised by the rave reviews here. I thought this book was just average. Maybe because I'd read and loved Remember Love (Time Passages Series) by the same author, so perhaps I was just expecting more than this novel had to offer.

First, I felt the characters were a little flat, especially in the case of the hero. He was just there. I knew his motivations, since the author gave a good look at the tragedies in his past, but I felt there really wasn't much more to him than a tortured soul.

I felt that the historical detail in this book was well done, as were the other subplots. However, the romance itself just never came alive for me. I never really felt that they were meant to be together. It felt more like they were together because of sexual attraction rather than true love. Not that this was a lust-soaked book (it wasn't), but I never really felt like there was more to hold the hero and heroine together.

I'm just glad I didn't read this one first, or I might not have tried another by this author. I recommend starting with REMEMBER LOVE. It's a keeper read, while BETHANY'S SONG wasn't.

Bethanys Song is the second novel in Susan Plunketts Song trilogy, and it is nearly as good as her stupendous first, Alicias Song.

Bethany is singing in a graveyard in modern day Wyoming with her sisters Alicia and Caitlyn when the River of Time sweeps her away to 1895 Juneau, Alaska. There she meets the handsome widowed architect Matthew Gray, who is as riveted by her beauty and plucky spirit as she is by his integrity and magnetic presence.

But both Bethany and Matthew carry deep emotional scars from their past that make it nearly impossible to risk their hearts. Bethany also hides the physical scars of a devastating car accident that left her barren, while Matthew has resolved never to marry again and risk a repeat of two years before when his wife and infant son died in childbirth. Bethany is afraid to reveal her fantastic origin to Matthew while he is unsettled that she will share very little about her past.

While they fight their overwhelming attraction, clever Bethany figures out a number of ways to support herself, and Matthew delves deeper into the apparent corruption plaguing the mine he has just inherited. Bethany assists the investigation, and she and Matthew are drawn unwillingly into a passionate affair. It is only when their discoveries nearly cost Bethany her life that she and Matthew are able to acknowledge their love and believe in a future together before its too late.

Plunkett creates complex and appealing characters the reader loves and follows with rapt attention. As with Alicias Song, I could barely turn the pages of Bethanys Song fast enough as exciting plot twists unfolded in the unforgettably magnificent Alaskan landscape.

Bethanys Song is immensely enjoyable. Plunkett writes with a rare passion, sensitivity, wit, intelligence and genuine heartfelt emotion. Like all of her work, Bethanys Song is not to be missed.

This book was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!! It didnt give to much away but gave enough. It's the kind that make's you get attached to the character's. Matthew also sound's irresistable!! He was like so romantic when we said "Do you want me to? hehehehehehhe The author of this book did an exeptional job and i cant wait until i read Alicia's Song!
I reread this book like 50 time's The Author deserves an applaude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!