Customer Reviews

Moon of the Falling Leaves

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I just finished "Moon of the Falling Leaves" by Diane Davis White, and I am amazed. It is obvious that Ms White did a lot of research for this western novel. To emphasize something in the story, she'll use a word from the Lakota Sioux dialog and than transparently fit the explanation into the story. It takes a real talent to accomplish that without breaking the rhythm.
"Moon of the Falling Leaves" is about a widow, Jessica, stranded with four children in the Rocky Mountains, and the Lakota Sioux warrior that finds them. Swift Eagle has many reasons to hate white people, but a dream tells him to befriend the family. He knows a blizzard is imminent so he moves them into an abandoned cabin. Rather than let them starve, he teaches the children and Jessica how to survive.
Swift Eagle slowly wins Jessica's heart and the devotion of her children, but another dream shows Jessica standing with a white man. Swift Eagle knows he must take her back to her people: their love is not meant to be. When he takes the family to a town, Jessica falls into the hands of unscrupulous people. What will happen to Jessica, her family, and Swift Eagle? You'll have to buy the book to find out.
This is a very talented writer who can spin words to create an earlier time. She will take you back to 1870 and keep you spellbound the entire novel. Diane weaves personality into her characters until you seem to know them, and the romance between Jessica and Swift Eagle slowly builds to a climax
It takes real talent to write a believable novel about 1870, but Diane White pulls it off without a problem. Can you tell that I really loved this novel?

Moon Of The Falling Leaves
By Diane Davis White

9780980035605

Jessica couldn't be worse off. Her husband's death just three days earlier has left her and her family unprotected against the coming winter with only a destroyed wagon for shelter. So when a handsome Lakota Warrior arrives claiming a vision showed him she would need his help she can only agree and keep a watchful eye on him. Perhaps too watchful she realizes as the tenderness he offers her children and his kindness to her begins to make her feel something other than just mere appreciation toward him. As her time with him grows so do the heated glances between them and she will have to decide if she can risk following what's in her heart.

The star crossed lovers of Diane Davis White's novel MOON OF FALLING LEAVES are the characters romance readers can't get enough of. With the mutual distrust forged between the Lakota people and the White's the two have enough riding against them from the beginning. Yet somewhere between Swift Eagle's kindness towards her children and the unquenchable passions he stirs in her, Jessica finds herself in love. It's this ability to not only transport her readers within her novel, but to make them feel connected to her characters that makes Ms. White's MOON OF FALLING LEAVES a historical romance readers will be beyond delighted to share with their friends.

Sure loved this one. It was moving, and hit me in the heart. I loved each of of the people in the story Jessica Swift Eagle and her wonderful children Jeremy, Freddie, Grace, Samuel, new baby John, and the rest of the great cast that makes up this book. From the being, it has you. I know people who love stories of the Indian getting the girl are going to adore it. My late Grandma would have love this.Was her favorite type of story to read.

The story takes place 1870 in the Rocky Mountains. Newly widowed Jessica Maxwell and her four children are surprised and frightened by the appearance of an Indian coming to their campsite. Swift Eagle is a Lakota Warrior coming to their aid because of visions that showed him he must help them. He has no idea why. He likes Whites no better than they like Indians. Since this is a romance, you know that by the end of the story the two will get together, but I admit I wondered if in fact they ever would or could be together. The author takes them all through dark, hard times before any happiness is shown. Historically correct, the issue of marriage between Indian and White was fraught with difficulty as well as danger, and is presented effectively enough that you can't see how it could be done.
I enjoyed reading how things were managed back then, and found it as interesting as the growing romance. The author captured Swift Eagle in words so well, I felt that I'd met him. Or it could have been the cover of the book, too! I loved the four children, and each one had their own personality. I liked and respected Jessica, and understood all her decisions. Near the end is a nail biter of a tale, and I had to finish it, to see how it all worked out. By then though, I'd become so fond of all the characters, I didn't want the story to end. The kind of book that when you finish, you're smiling, and looking to see if you have another read by this author. I hope there are more books like this in the future from Diane Davis White. I highly recommend Moon of the Falling Leaves.

When two cultures collide can love survive?
Jessica Maxwell is at the wilderness' mercy when she is widowed and three days later the wagon breaks down. Alone in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains with her four children the brave woman tries desperately to get the wagon going again so her family can achieve her late husband's dream of settling out West.

Lakota warrior, Swift Eagle, has a vision about the stranded White woman and her family and goes to rescue them, even though he has good reason not to trust White people. Moving them into the deserted cabin just as the first blizzard of the season starts. He teaches the children how to hunt and fish and provide food for themselves through out the winter. Through his caring ways he wins the respect and trust of the children and Jessica's heart, but he knows that he must return this family that he has grown to love back to the White settlement in the spring.

Diane Davis White has crafted a spellbinding story of people from two different cultures journeying from distrust through respect, trust and an all-powerful passion making this a riveting read. Readers of romance will be delighted by the way Diane Davis White transports them into the past and weaves a passionate love story that transcends through time. A must read for all romance fans.

Moon of the Falling Leaves by Diane Davis White

Moon of the Falling Leaves by Diane Davis White is a gripping tale of a Lakota Warrior and a newly widowed woman stranded in the Rocky Mountains in 1870. Swift Eagle, the Lakota has a deep hatred for the white people after they destroyed his family when he was only a child. The Great Spirit has led him a vision that he must be the savior to the widow and her four children.

Jessica Maxwell is surly discomforted by Swift Eagle's presence, but soon comes to lust and appreciate the man more than her late husband. A love that can never be is set aside, and Swift Wind helps Jessica and her children survive the harsh winter only to lead her into town and forfeit the burning desire they both harbor. It is not until Jessica and the children are captured by a horrible man that plans to sell the family and person by person, that Swift Eagle realizes what path he must choose in life.

Will he reach the Maxwell's soon enough, or will all hope be lost once he is discovered and shot? Swift Eagle must follow his heart.

Moon of the Falling Leaves is a historical romance that shows true love, desire, and protection for a family that does not even belong to the loner Lakota. Diane Davis White has done an amazing job with the details of her characters, at some points the story was a little slow leading up to the kidnapping but it was still very much enjoyable. 4 Hearts

Diane Davis White has penned a true story of survival. I really like the Fact that the author uses many Lakota phrases that she translates immediately into English. This story moves very quickly, you love the hero Swift Eagle who, is a Lakota Shaman from the beginning and can immediately empathize with Jessica Maxwell, the heroine who is a white woman. Swift Eagle helps out the Maxwell Family when the father dies leaving the helpless mother and children stranded in the unforgiving Rocky Mountains with what could be a deadly winter looming ahead. How does the little family survive? You will just have to buy this delightful book to find out you will not be disappointed. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.