Edith and the Mysterious Stranger [Paperback]

Linda Weaver Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008

With mysterious letters, cattle rustlers, a spunky woman, the liar's fire, Halloween, and young love, there is always something happening. It is 1904 and Melinda is "with child" and threatening to miscarry. Her cousin Edith, a nurse, moves to Paris to care for her. Edith has wonderful qualities but never gives a man a second chance because her expectations are so high. However, all that changes when a mysterious stranger begins to write to her. For the first time, she gets to know a man's inner soul before making any harsh judgments. Whoever he is, this man is a mystery and the best thing that has ever happened to her. The question that puzzles her is whether or not he's as wonderful in person as he is in his letters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Clarke displays an easy and excellent style of writing, blending adventure, romance, history, humor, and courage. A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho is an instant classic and should put this author on the literary map all over the world. A MUST read!" --Page One Literary Book Review

"This is good Christian fiction. Ms. Clarke, this is a piece to be proud of. Well done!" --Debra Gaynor, Reader Views

"For anyone who likes to read classic-styled romance novels that also have a drop of history, this is the book for you. It is very easy to picture the scene you are reading. Clarke was able to write about love in a soft fashion. I was impressed with the eloquence in which Clarke spun her story. It was dramatic in some spots and yet contained simply-placed bits of humor." --Melynda Gascoyne, the Amherst Bee, Buffalo, New York

About the Author

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a "Family Legacy Workshop," encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is the author of eight novels: the historical romance series, "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho," which includes: Melinda and the Wild West - a semi-finalist for the "Reviewers Choice Award 2007," and a mystery series, "The Adventures of John and Julia Evans."

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: American Book Publishing (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589824695
• ISBN-13: 978-1589824690
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,676,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a "Family Legacy Workshop," encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is happily married and is the mother of six daughters and has several grandchildren. Clarke is the author of the historical "sweet" romance series, "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho," which includes the following novels: Melinda and the Wild West - a finalist for the "Reviewers Choice Award," Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, Jenny's Dream, David and the Bear Lake Monster, and Elena, Woman of Courage. A mystery series, "The Adventures of John and Julia Evans," includes the following novels: Anasazi Intrigue, Mayan Intrigue, and Montezuma Intrigue.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery, History, Romance, and Adventure, October 30, 2009

By 

Suko (Southern CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edith and the Mysterious Stranger (Paperback)

Set in 1904, this story takes place seven years after the end of the first book, Melinda and the Wild West. Melinda is now "with child", and having a difficult pregnancy. She's supposed to stay in bed and off her feet as much as possible, although she can't stand the restrictions. Her cousin, Edith, a nurse living in Salt Lake City, Utah, decides to visit her parents in Idaho and help Melinda get through her precarious pregnancy.

While caring for her cousin in Paris, Idaho, beautiful and "spunky" Edith attracts the attention of more than one suitor. Whereas Melinda and the Wild West focuses on the romance between Melinda and Gilbert, this book focuses on multiple romances. The first is the continued romance between Melinda and Gilbert, married now and more in love than ever. There's also a budding romance between Jenny and her father's young helper, David. Last but not least, admirers have taken a romantic interest in Edith. The first is Henry, a school administrator, who's educated and polite, but who believes a woman's place is in the home. Also interested in Edith is Joseph, a farmer and cowhand, who's self-educated and plays the guitar. But Edith is extremely picky when it comes to men.

"Many men had courted Edith, but she inevitably found fault with each one. Either he was too shy or too bold, too ignorant or too proud, too arrogant or too quiet, too short or too tall, too old or too young."

~Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, Linda Weaver Clarke

Edith begins to get letters from a "mysterious stranger", and she shares these romantic letters with Melinda. The author based this story around the courtship of her parents, who wrote letters to each other before they ever met.

As with the first book, history is woven into the story. I learned that Irish immigrants brought the concept of dressing up on Halloween to America, and about the opening of the New York subway in 1904, a response to the terrible blizzard of 1888. An important aspect of this book, also evident in the first book, is the value of equality between the sexes, the emergence of early feminism, and the right to vote in some states. In these books, the central women have professions. Melinda is a teacher and Edith is a singer and a nurse. Traditional women's work--taking care of children and a home--is also appreciated and valued as real work. Even though his tone is stern, what Gilbert says here made me cheer:

'Don't talk to me about these so-called wifely duties. If a man can't help with the household chores, then what kind of husband is he, anyway? I tell you this, I enjoy helping and serving whenever I can. A man who comes in the house after his job is done and then sits down to read a newspaper while his wife is fixing the meal is no example of a husband who truly loves his wife. Why can't a husband help? Is there a written law that wives should wait on their husbands? I don't think so.'

~Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, Linda Weaver Clarke

This book is an enticing combination of genres--Wild West, historical fiction, romance, Christian, mystery--that any reader age twelve and older should enjoy. I certainly did, and look forward to reading the third novel in the series, Jenny's Dream. Linda Weaver Clarke's books are fun to read, and full of adventure and romance.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mystery and romance, August 11, 2008

By 

A. Rees (Salt Lake City, Ut.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Edith and the Mysterious Stranger (Paperback)

I thought this book was amazing. It has adventure, romance and keeps you guessing who the mysterious stranger is. You wonder what is going to happen throughout the book. I highly recommend it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Edith and the Mysterious Stranger by Linda Weaver Clarke, April 27, 2011

By 

J. Cox "ladymagnolia" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Edith and the Mysterious Stranger (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the suspense and mystery around not knowing who the mysterious stranger was. A mysterious romance written for anyone to read. It was refreshing in that respect. I would definitely recommend it.