Customer Reviews

Bitterleaf

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had heard so much about this book and ordered it with great anticipation. It was good...it truly was, but it was a little predictable to me. I had heard it described as "Timeless" and was very excited to lay hands on it. The story was interesting and the characters were well-developed it was just that the plot was a little transparent. I know the book is an older book and I don't want to knock it because I read a ton of books and I think my expectations may just be too high. Good author, good story and good characters...I just wish Meredith hadn't been plain and that I hadn't been able to see around the corners. A worthwhile read though so don't miss it.

I know some readers have certain tropes they avoid no matter what, and I used to think that I would never, ever like the "chick in pants" device. That is, until I read a couple romances where it didn't annoy me at all. So I decided not to avoid a certain trope simply because of what it is because, you know, there might be an author who will do it justice and you will be glad you kept the faith.

That said....

I don't think I will ever, ever pick up another romance where the heroine is a spinster. Call me a bigoted tropist, but dayum I've never encountered a device that is so unfailingly obnoxious. It sucks all the air out of a book when so much of it is focused on a character's plain looks or lack of social skills. Meredith was one of the biggest, whiny self-deprecators this social hermit has ever had the displeasure to read.

Her other huge fault that sucked out the other 50% of the story's air was her massive leaps to the wrong conclusions, which was like putting Godzilla fertilizer on a little seed of Big Misunderstanding until we had a monster of misguided doubts, snitfits, and (in a natural progression of "omg, woman, are you effin' serious?!?") delusions of attempted murder chomping up everybody in sight. It was ridiculous. For the entire last half of the book, with each and every instance of Meredith being a complete and utter dolt, I thought, "Oh gee, could she get any stupider?" And the dogged little blatherskite didn't let me down.

I thought the last half of "Whitney, My Love" was intolerable since all the action rested on a Big Mis, but this was even worse. There was nothing in this story that didn't count on a misunderstanding to make it blossom, from Jeremy's lineage all the way to Meredith's cousin's (aka Galen) assumption about how she felt about Jeremy. From beginning to end. No talking to each other. No believing each other even if they did talk. An amazing ability to avoid the simmering topics even in the heat of anger, even though impulsive speech often was used to worsen the misunderstanding. Arrrgh! It was so contrived and idiotic.

The big reveals that should have been present about Meredith's stepfather's marriage plans (and his reasons for concocting the scheme) for her and Jeremy were telegraphed sooooo far in advance that I was merely waiting for the H/h to finally get the news that was screamingly obvious. They never failed to see what wasn't there, but were totally blind to what was in front of them. Good God.

I still gave this 2 stars because I liked some of the historical details about the plantation daily life. However, that got to be way too infodumpy and I ended up skimming anything that looked like minutae of house husbandry and adjectives galore about clothing. Some of those were block paragraphs of soporific doom. Far, far too much of the story was the Big Mis and filler. Easily more than half, but I'm inclined to say three-quarters (at least).

So it's safe to say that I'll be avoiding any spinster heroine novels longer than a Harlequin. I'll probably end up reading another and regretting it, but there's a tenacious little spark that wants to keep hope alive.

Very well written story with good plot detail and very developed characters. The novel itself is highly erotic and is one of my favorite novels to date. This book really can never go out of style with its timeless take on a great love affair, it can stand the test of time and last throughout the ages. The compelling narrative of the novel keeps the reader wanting more. I have read this book many times over and I never get bored with it, I just can never put it down when I start reading it! I highly recommend it!!!

Excellent, if you like a titillating romance with a happy ending.
I have read it more than once, so much more enjoyable that the crass, sullied sex books released today that never look beyond the sex act..this develops characters who have a sense of morality.

Good stuff.

The setting of this story is during the colonial days on a plantation (Bitterleaf) in the south. This was during the time of slavery in America and I have never read a romance that set in this time period. I was pleasantly surprised.

This is the story of an illegitimate English lord who becomes an indentured servant in America. He is sold to a rich landowner to work and is quickly "moved up the ranks". The landowner has a daughter whom is described as "plain, unattractive, and mousy".

The first half of this book is just alright. The second half after Jeremy and Meredith are married gets much better so hang in there! There were a few things that kept this book from being a 5 star read for me. Meredith's lack of looks and how many references there are to this fact really was bothersome to me. Even Jeremy, the love of her life, finds her unattractive and plain but still desires her. Isn't beauty in the eye of the beholder. I guess I just like romances where the heroine is seen as beautiful, if by no one else.....by her husband!

I liked Jeremy and there are some awesome scenes in this book. There is some mild suspense as there is someone trying to hurt Jeremy and Meredith, but it's all rather predictable.

This is a good read. If you're interested in a GREAT read try The Rainbow Season by this author. It is incredible.

I lent this book to a friend and never got it back. It make such an impression on me (over 12 years ago) that I've been looking for it ever since. It is a great story and very well written. Please republish!

This book is the first book I cut my teeth on as a romance reader.... I had this book in high school and then I reordered a new copy for me and a friend 10 years later. The publisher would do good to reissue this book now as it is still enjoyable even 10 years later

Bitterleaf is one of the best romance books ever written. I read this book over 10 years ago and found myself re-reading it over and over again. The pages became worn and the book cover was tattered. Unfortunately, I lost this book and have never found it again. I highly recommend it to readers who value a clever plot and great DIALOGUE about adults (not 18-year old girls) who truly explore together the meaning of love and their own lives. The sexually explicit scenes are well written and erotic enough to keep you turning page after page until you get to the end. I guarantee that once you read the last page, you'll want to read it again!

One of the best books I've read-smart, sensitive and sexy, with honest situations and characters, and truly affecting situations. I'm desperate for a sequel!

This book stands the test of time. About 12 years ago, I read it several times over and over again and loved it more with every read. I would love to read it over and again several times more. I loved it so much that I recommended it and loaned it to friends and acquaintances... and that's where I made my mistake. I loaned it out so many times that I lost track of who had it and I never got it back. It's the best romance book I've ever read and I really hope that I can get my hands on a brand new reprint. As soon as you've finished reading it you'll feel like rereading it all over again.