Customer Reviews

East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Tom Doherty Associates Books)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One of the unexpected joys of writing reviews for Amazon is not only hearing from other readers but also receiving messages from many authors as well. In some cases these are often authors of books I've reviewed and in some cases they are authors suggesting I read their books. Carole Bellacera is an author who contacted me, suggested I read her latest book East of the Sun, West of the Moon and then offered to send me a copy. Immediately I responded that I would love to read this book and would review it once I finished it.

I must admit that when I first looked at the book I didn't think I would enjoy it that much. To begin with except for one or two favorite romance authors, I've more or less stopped reading this genre. And of the romance books I do read and those I loved the least favorite theme I enjoyed is that of a younger man and older woman. Now that I've said that I must now add, that I was pleasantly surprised by this book. In the tradition of authors like LaVyrle Spencer and Barbara Taylor Bradford, Bellacera presents characters who are on the brink of changes in their lives and are also forced to make difficult decisions. And these decisions may ultimately cause hardships for some involved and joy to others.

Central to the story is 40 years old, Leigh Fallon wife of a Congressman and mother of 3 children ranging in age from 10 to 19. While Leigh closes her eyes concerning Bob's emotional abuse towards her and his frequent absences from home, she can't deny the fact that he has been an unfaithful husband when evidence stares her in the face. But she puts her feelings aside until her son suggests housing a 27 year old exchange and graduate student from Norway. Suddenly Leigh has feelings for this young man that she thought she had long buried and when Erik seems to feel the same way, events are set in motion for a good book.

Bellacera weaves an interesting tale as Leigh comes to grips with her own feelings, her deceitful and philandering husband, her judgmental children and two men who offer her
Happiness. Interspersed between the pages of this book are Norse folktales and legends along with well-written descriptions of various parts of Norway. And the book which is divided into two parts gains interest as a new man enters Leigh's life and there's also a bit of mystery surrounding the parentage of a young child and Erik.

This novel was a fast read for me and I did enjoy it. It is a true romance novel with a happily ever after ending but I won't say anything more than suggest you read this book.

This is one of the most black&white painted story I read in a long time. The main characters are reflecting every clichee you ever heard of: the unfaithful, career-oriented congressman, the naive wife with a job as a children's book illustrator that is not taken serious by her husband, and the ever listening, handsome "quarter-back" type Norvegian exchange student. There is no space for the characters to develop.

After giving this book three chances to "improve", I gave up at page 75 (of 380). This was too much for me. When did they start to publish dime novels as hard covers?

Leigh is married to a senior congressman. They have three beautiful children and a fantastic home in Virginia. Yet Leigh is totally miserable. Her husband is always on the run and never has time for her. The little time they spend together is celibate because he's impotent at least with her. Her esteem has sunk to an all time low when a postgraduate exchange student from Denmark stays with them for a year.

From the time they set eyes on each other, Leigh and Erik have a red hot molten attraction for one another. Leigh resists going to bed with him until she finds some condoms in her husband's bag. She knows then that he is cheating on her because she had her tubes tied years ago. Thus Leigh and Eric have an affair but have much to overcome, including another woman, if they want to make a life together.

Carla Bellacera has written a fabulous relationship drama in which people make bad decisions for the right reasons, a practice that leads to heartache for everyone concerned. EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON is a beautiful love story that will appeal to fans of Belva Plain and Laura van Wormer.

Harriet Klausner

Forty-year-old Leigh Fallon, mother of three and wife to an abusive politician, comes to a crossroads in her life when they agree to host a Norwegian exchange student. Erik Hausland is thirteen years younger than Leigh, nevertheless the two fall in love. Leigh's determination to remain faithful to boorish Bob ends when she discovers condoms in his overnight bag and realizes his feigned impotence is a lie. As Erik and Leigh grow closer, their relationship is exposed and the sham of a marriage ends, but worse is to come when her husband turns their children against her. Leigh follows Erik to Norway and uncovers secrets that will alter the course of their love.

Ms. Bellecera paints a vivid picture of a mature woman's grace and beauty, the age-old story of older woman, younger man, and she does it exquisitely against the backdrop of the beautiful Norwegian scenery. This is a rich emotional drama with many twists and turns. Leigh must overcome many trials to reach her happy ending. Pick up this book; you won't be sorry. Very highly recommended.

DO NOT miss this one! This is a classic. I am still trying to catch my breath. Unbelieveable is probably one of the only words that comes close to this masterpiece...
It was filled with complex emotions and real-life experiences. A true rollarcoaster ride. Few books that I can recall have come close to this one's calliber.
A change from the ordinary reads, this one tackles an older woman and younger man affair and the heartbreak and tragedy that it brings.

Leigh Fallon must justify why she wants to cheat on her husband of 20 years. Not too hard when she finds out her Congressman husband is less than honest.
Bob Fallon ignores Leigh except to criticize or belittle her. Leigh is helplessly drawn to the twenty-something Norwegian exhange student Erik staying with them for the year.
After finding proof that Bob is spending all his free time with his young and gorgeous secretary on Capitol Hill, Leigh decides to give in to her urges and begins an affair with Erik.
What she doesn't expect is how her normal and tidy life will change so dramtically in so short a time, setting off a domino effect that will end in tragedy, heartbreak, jealousy, courage and love...
The many emotions displayed in this book will leave you mentally exhausted, but smiling with the triumphant end. A beautiful and classic love story that will withstand the test of time...

<sigh> A sure keeper....This author is an extremely talented lady...

Tracy Talley~@

Having loved Ms Bellacera's previous two works I was very disappointed in this one. I thought her take on an older woman/younger man romance, plus a story that dealt with the realities of adultery would be well done, because in Border Crossings and Spotlight she showed very realistically and movingly the effects of The Troubles in Northern Ireland upon families.

Instead I got:

A plot that put Days of our Lives to shame. Every standard soap opera device was in here, except the evil twin (I was kind of disappointed she didn't manage to squeeze that in as well).

Far too many flat out Evil characters with silly plots against the hero and heroine. I like problems within books to arise from natural situations, not cardboard characters.

Political diatribes. Ms Bellacera's politics were showing, and I didn't appreciate being preached to.

A stereotypical husband. Would it have been too much to ask to read about the real reasons a woman commits adultery, without making her husband a ridiculously clichéd monster?

A hero who seems to make some decisions only to further the plot, not because it makes sense based upon his character.

I did enjoy a few things in the book: the descriptions of Norway and the character of Knut and what he went through, so the book doesn't get one star. But it definitely only gets two.

Leigh Fallon is married to congressman Bob Fallon who is far more interested in his political career than his marriage or children. Bob has no time for her or their 3 children, and is constantly critical and has become impotent (at least towards Leigh). Leigh tries to find meaning and solace in her budding career as an illustrator of children's books, but Bob trivializes her accomplishments and constantly criticizes her.

Erik, a 27 year old Norwegian exchange student, comes to stay with their family for a year, and Leigh, who is 40, finds herself inexplicably attracted to the gentle, handsome, blond psychology student. She tries to deny her feelings for him, but it is obviously a mutual attraction. When she eventually discovers that her husband has been having an affair with his young assistant, she succumbs to her passion for Erik and they begin a steamy affair.

When Bob discovers her affair with Erik, he is outraged and indignant and forces her out of the home. The divorce is quick, and in order to prevent any further embarrassment to her children, Leigh agrees to move out of their home. The children are angry and alienated, and Leigh moves in temporarily with a friend in New York. She breaks off the relationship with Erik in order to spare her children any more discomfort and tries to rebuild her life.

All this trauma and anxiety has occurred before the book is half over, so you know you're in for a long ride on this emotional roller coaster. Ellie moves back to Washington to be closer to her children, finds another wonderful, sincere man and falls in love with him, and discovers depths of strength and forgiveness that she never knew she had. Will she ever find again the passion and love that she experienced with Erik? You'll want to stay tuned until the end of this heartbreaking, heartwarming romance to discover the answer.

East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon is a fabulous read! Laugh, cry, and rejoice as author Carole Bellacerra takes you on a complex, emotion-packed journey filled with richly drawn, complex characters. Leigh Fallon discovers her long, loyal marriage to her Congressman husband is a sham. Faced with the unsavory truth of his infidelity, Liegh is vulnerable and tattered with the indecision of leaving him because of her teenage children. That is until, Erik, a handsome, hopelessly young Norwegian exchange student reveals the secrets of her soul, bringing out the best in Leigh, and everything she was meant to be. Upon her divorce, everyone in their orbit seems dead set against them, and Erik and Leigh are soon torn asunder. Separated by some very unique life circumstances and surprising plot twists that bring many profound life lessons, along with the agony of unrequited longing, these star-crossed lovers finally reunite in a bitter-sweet summit that will truly tug at your heart. Sigh. . . I did not want it to end. Where's my box of Kleenex?

EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON has as many layers as an onion. It is a story to be read, to be considered, and to be savored.

As it begins, Kayleigh "Leigh" Fallon is the wife of a Congressman from Ohio and the mother of three terrific children. Her husband neglects her, barely acknowledging her existence and ignoring her personal achievements as his helpmate and as a successful commercial illustrator.

Things change for Leigh when the family takes in an exchange student from Norway. He turns out to be a graduate student, older than the traditional exchange student, and a hunk at that.

At the beginning, Leigh ignores her attraction to this young man, but after she discovers evidence of her husband's affair, she has a tryst of her own.

What begins as a fling becomes a great love which, of course, disrupts Leigh's neatly ordered existence. EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON (which is the title of a famous Norwegian fairy tale, the author explains) details the consequences of their relationship on the lovers, and also on the other people affected by the changes their relationship brings, principally Leigh's children and her lover's family. Like classic literature, the story is complicated, and some incidental characters turn out to have a great impact on the heroine's life.

The sex scenes, not insignificantly, are beautifully written, both elegant and passionate. These scenes are plausible and believable in ways that are uncommon in women's fiction.

EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON is in the tradition of the classic novels. It is a fascinating tale of one woman's journey to happiness, and it is a great love story as well.

I was another lucky person who received a copy of this book from the author. I had never read one of her books before, and this was a treat. The older woman-younger man affair was challenging to both of the characters and compelling to read. A 40+ heroine who is attractive and interesting is great to find in a romance novel! I hope to read more of this author's books in the future. If you'd like a romance with a little more substance, try this one.