Customer Reviews

A Gentle Giving (Glassbook)

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

 

 

This is one of Dorothy Garlock's better books, in my opinion. The characters are well developed and the plot is full of adventure. Willa is a strong, intelligent heroine who always manages to make the better of whatever hard situation is thrown her way - escaping a wild mob, fending off the advances of a lecherous gambler, taking on the role of semi-guardian to two orphaned teens along the way, nursing their injured aunt back to health, and taming the heart of a grief-stricken cowboy (Smith, our hero) who has up until now sought comfort in only a bottle. A very entertaining read and a lot of romantic tension between the hero and heroine. It grew a little weak towards the end, which is why I gave it only 4 stars, but it was still a very enjoyable book.

I just finished A Gentle Giving, by Dorothy Garlock, and it was wonderful! This one was not one of my favorites of hers, but it was very good. Willa actually escaped a house in flames, caused by the angry townsfolk, in nothing more than ther nightgown. The family she joins up with, lends her clothing... so not even owning the clothing on her body, she is thrust into the hard life of a wagon trail. When the father is killed, leaving behind two teenagers to fend for themselves, Willa chooses to help them get to their next of kin in the Big Horn Mountains. This was an excellent read... and I'm off to read The Listening Sky by Dorothy Garlock now.

I'm on the fence about this book. the beginning of the book was artfully done and i couldnt bring myself to put it down. towards the end of the book it started to get very dull. I love willa's spunk, and i loved the way the romance was slowly developed during the course of the book. I also loved the interactions between all of the characters, it will have you laughing out loud a lot. but there were times where i got so bored because i felt like things werent going fast enough, and i would always wonder...gosh why wont they talk about X or why wont they talk about Y. i got so sick of waiting to see how it would end, that i had to put the book down 3 times. and for that, i guess whats why i only gave the book 3 stars...

There are some beautiful momments in the book that will bring tears to your eyes.

This has to be said.....I dont think i have ever read a book and wished a character would just die, or just fall off the face of the earth as soon as possible. Without spoiling the name of the character, ill leave you all to read and find out for yourself (but if i were you i would read another novel of hers because im not sure if i enjoyed this one as much as her other ones). On a brighter note, it shows how genius D.G. is when creating a character, right? *shrug*

I have only read four of her books but, Im started to get a little sick of her writing style...sometimes she will put some of the most cheesest lines Ive ever heard in the book. especially when the love scences come up...If i read one more of her novels that mentions "sweetheart" or any other little cheesey overly done one-liners, i will barf.

The ending is sweet, maybe it will even tear at your heart a little....but the middle and part of the ending were a little lame...she needs to work on her love scenes too(there was only one)...very disappointing...in this book anyway...

A Gentle Giving was the first book by Dorothy Garlock that I ever read. It has become one of my all time favorites and a treasure I keep along with a collection of her other titles.

A Gentle Giving started off strong....Willa Hammer narrowly escapes a lynch mob that just killed a man who was like a father to her, only to be rescued by a lecherous man with an unruly, spoiled daughter and a son who is basically a servant for the two.

Seems the story that lead to the lynching would have been the better story to tell. There were quite a few dispicable characters that seemed to be better developed and identifiable than the main heroine.

I had a problem with Willa and her love interest, Smith. Willa meets Smith as he is in a barn passed out from too much liquor and later she claims it was love at first sight..Really? Smith also reveals that he killed a man and rather than her ask him about the circumstances, she claims that they are just too different to be together. Frankly, there had not even been a handful of discussions between the two to even get to know if they suited although she had already told him that she loved him.

If you are new to Dorothy Garlock, I would suggest passing on this book because you may never try another. I really enjoyed her series of five books that started with "Ribbon in the Sky".

Another reader's review stated they were disappointed that there was not more love scenes. Reflecting on the other books of Ms. Garlock's that I have read, I would say she details her romances in a "rated-G" fashion and in comparison this book was more descriptive than her others. If you are looking for a steamy love story which happens to be based in the past, I would not think Ms. Garlock would be the best choice.

Ms. Garlock stories tend to unlock the past and make a reader feel they are transported back in time. My mother enjoys the remembrances about products, foods, gardening and such that are detailed so well. Ms. Garlock simply writes a good, crisp, clean book.

Garlock does a great job of slowly allowing Smith and Willa to fall in love. Both have had devastating pasts which make them stronger together for the future. Encore, Garlock!

I listened to the audio cassette recording of Dorothy Garlock's A Gentle Giving and I liked this Western Historical romance and I liked the characters Willa Hammer and Smith Bowman and though I don't feel it's a keeper I enjoyed the romance story.